LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Constituency Offices

David Kidney: To ask the Leader of the House how many honourable Members have constituency offices that are registered under the Office, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963; and what advice hon. Members are given about such registration of constituency offices.

Peter Hain: This information is not collected centrally. I understand that the House authorities do not provide any such advice, but the Speaker's Advisory Panel on Members' Allowances has been asked to consider how best to ensure that Members are aware of the need to register their offices.

Parliamentary Bills

Michael Jack: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list, for each bill considered by the House in this session of Parliament, how much time was spent on debate on each clause during (a) committee stage and (b) report stage.

Peter Hain: The information requested is a matter of public record, obtainable from Hansard, but could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Partnership Law

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Advocate-General pursuant to her Answer of 9 September, Official Report, column 158, on partnership law in relation to Scottish land law, whether any representations have been made.

Lynda Clark: I am informed that no representations by landowners have been received by the Office of the Advocate-General about the matter of partnership law in relation to Scottish land law.

SCOTLAND

Scottish Agricultural Sector

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) the Scottish Executive on the Scottish agricultural sector.

Anne McGuire: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with his ministerial colleagues and with the Scottish Executive on a wide range of issues.

Scottish Agricultural Sector

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations his Department has made to the European Union regarding the Scottish agricultural sector.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs represents the United Kingdom's views on agricultural issues in regular discussions in the European Union. In doing so, it takes account of the views of the Scottish Executive and the other Agriculture Departments.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to her answer of 23 October, Official Report, column 693W, on Iraq, what considerations underpinned the decision to override the convention of non-publication of the Law Officers' advice to Government when the Attorney-General published a summary of his advice on 17 March.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General's advice was not disclosed. In view of the high level of public interest in this issue, the Attorney-General, exceptionally, made a written statement in Parliament on 17 March 2003, setting out his view of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq.

TRANSPORT

Accident Report (Salisbury)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will request a report on the accident on 6 November at Broken Cross Bridge near Salisbury; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I understand that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident at Broken Cross Bridge, including the condition of the parapet, are on-going.
	Given the general concern over highway accidents that result in vehicles ending up on railway tracks, the Government are keen to learn of such incidents as one part of our work to meet road safety targets.
	I will therefore request that copies of the accident report are made available to my officials in order to assess whether there are any lessons to be learned. Until then I believe it would be inappropriate to make any further statement.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of meetings of (a) the EU Committee for the implementation of the directive relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars and (b) the EU Committee on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances (SEVESO II) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present on each occasion; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present at each preparatory meeting; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: During the Danish and Greek presidencies the Committee of Directive 99/94/EC met on one occasion, on 13 December 2002. On the agenda were a review of the state of play of legal implementation of the Directive in member states, a draft Directive adapting the base Directive with relation to displaying of CO2 information in car showrooms, a recommendation to extend the Directive to other media, and a discussion of segmentation of the vehicle fleet for CO2 labelling purposes.
	Fuel consumption and CO2 labelling are a reserved issue and the Committee meeting was attended by officials of the Department for Transport only. However, UK officials consult widely and the views of the devolved administrations, including the Scottish Executive, are fully reflected at Committee meetings.

Mersey Bridge

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's policy is on integrating the new Mersey Bridge with the transport network of (a) St. Helens, (b) Merseyside and (c) the north west region.

David Jamieson: Halton borough council submitted a detailed proposal to my Department in July 2003 for the funding of a New Mersey Crossing. The implications of such a crossing for the transport networks of St. Helens, Merseyside and the north west region will be considered as part of our assessment of this proposal.

Mersey Bridge

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the cost of linking the transport links of St. Helens with the new Mersey Bridge; and what additional resources he will make available for this purpose.

David Jamieson: Halton borough council submitted a detailed proposal to the Department for Transport in July 2003 for the funding of a New Mersey Crossing. No separate assessment has been carried out by the Department of the cost of linking the transport links of St. Helens with a new crossing. The provision of additional resources for such transport links would be considered in the light of any proposals submitted by the relevant authorities in the context of the Local Transport Plan for Merseyside.

Mersey Bridge

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many jobs the Government estimates will be created by the building of the new Mersey Bridge.

David Jamieson: Halton borough council submitted a detailed proposal to my Department in July 2003 for the funding of a New Mersey Crossing. My Department has not made any separate estimates of the number of jobs that might be created by such a proposal.

Norwalk Viruses

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers on board UK-registered cruise ships have been affected by Norwalk viruses in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: This information is not available.

Planning Inquiries

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many recommendations from planning inquiry inspectors he has (a) accepted and (b) rejected in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport was formed on 29 May 2002. Since its formation, the Secretary of State has accepted 44 recommendations made by public inquiry inspectors and rejected none.

Railways

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of trains left (a) London's Kings Cross, (b) Euston, (c) Victoria, (d) Liverpool Street, (e) Marylebone, (f) Paddington, (g) Waterloo and (h) Charing Cross behind schedule in the first week of each month in 2003.

Tony McNulty: This information is not collected by the Government or the Strategic Rail Authority. Punctuality is based on time of arrival at final destination stations.

Road Safety

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to make using a hand-held mobile phone while driving an endorsable offence.

David Jamieson: As announced in the Department's decision letter of 24 June 2003, the Government plans to make the new offence endorsable when a suitable legislative opportunity arises.

Work-related Stress

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport was established following machinery of Government changes in May 2002. For the period 2002–03 there have been 16 cases of alleged work-related stress in the Department for Transport (excluding its Agencies). There have been no compensation claims for work-related stress. The Department does not have details of the days lost and associated cost for work-related absence.
	The Department has a Stress at Work Policy in place, which is supported by practical guidance issued to staff on dealing with the issue. In addition, the Department has access to a counselling and support facility. The Department is committed to meeting the targets for reducing the number of days lost due to work related injuries and ill health arising from the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture Sector (Losses)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the annual economic loss sustained by the agricultural sector from infestation by (a) rabbits, (b) voles, (c) rats and (d) mice.

Ben Bradshaw: In the 1980s the Department estimated the total cost of rabbit damage to agricultural crops in Britain to be approximately £100 million per annum. The Central Science Laboratory has derived a current estimate, based on extrapolation from the 1980s, of approximately £115 million per annum with the total cost of rabbit control activity being approximately £5 million per annum.
	There are no figures available for economic losses to the agricultural sector caused by voles, rats or mice, as Defra does not collate these data.

Antibiotics

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use of antibiotics in imported meats.

Ben Bradshaw: Residues of antibiotics, other veterinary medicines and banned substances in meats imported from third countries are controlled at two levels. First, the European Commission requires all third countries wishing to export food products to the EU to submit annual residue monitoring plans. These must demonstrate that the third country understands that exports to Member States should not contain substances banned in the EU, or authorised veterinary medicines in excess of the EC Maximum Residue Limit. These arrangements replicate the obligations placed on Member States to ensure that any residues of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs produced in the EU are at a level safe for consumers. The European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office also carries out missions to third countries to inspect and audit the arrangements they have in place to meet this requirement. Secondly, imports into the UK are randomly sampled at Border Inspection Posts and, to a lesser extent, at retail outlets. These samples are tested for a range of residues, including antibiotics. Any positives are considered for their consumer safety implications by toxicologists and the importing country's authorities are asked to investigate. Results of all the tests are reported on the Veterinary Medicines Directorate's website and in their quarterly newsletter.

Beef Exports

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the British Government are taking to ensure that the French Government pay their fine for breaching the rules allowing British beef to be exported to France.

Ben Bradshaw: The European Commission withdrew its case in the European Court of Justice seeking a daily fine on France after France lifted its ban. Therefore, no fines were payable, but the Commission asked the Court to order that costs of the case be borne by France. The UK Government regretted the decision by the European Commission not to pursue the case for penalties against France. The UK supported the Commission throughout and believed that pressing this case would have sent a firm message to member states that no one country can avoid its obligations and responsibilities.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what factors determine compensation payment levels for bovine TB factors in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

Ben Bradshaw: The Brucellosis and Tuberculosis (England and Wales) Compensation Order 1978 (as amended) specifies that the level of compensation payable for animals slaughtered for tuberculosis in England and Wales shall be their market value. Analogous legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland similarly provide for compensation to be made at the market value.
	The legislation covering compensation in respect of bovine tuberculosis is the Tuberculosis Control Order (Northern Ireland) 1999. Article 11(1) of the legislation states that where the Department slaughters or causes an animal to be slaughtered under Article 10(1), the compensation payable by the Department for the animal shall be the market value of the animal.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 29 September from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, on behalf of Ms Archer, a constituent, regarding the welfare of racing greyhounds.

Ben Bradshaw: I responded to my right hon. Friend on 5 November 2003.

Cruelty to Animals

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what legislation people who are cruel to animals may be prosecuted; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 27 October 2003
	A person can be prosecuted for cruelty to animals under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 (in England and Wales, 1912 Act in Scotland) in relation to acts of cruelty against captive and domestic animals; the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 in relation to acts of cruelty against wild mammals; the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) in relation to acts of cruelty against other wild animals; and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 in relation to acts of cruelty against badgers.
	My Department is currently reviewing the legislation relating to the welfare of captive animals with the intention of updating and consolidating it into one statute—the Animal Welfare Act. Offences of cruelty and the associated penalties are included as part of the review.

Dairy Farming

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy cows there were in each of the past five years; and what the average size of dairy herds was in each year.

Ben Bradshaw: Data for dairy cows are collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total.
	For the last five years the figures are:
	
		Dairy cows and dairy herd size 1998 to 2002
		
			  Dairy cows Average dairy herd size 
		
		
			 1998 1,642,636 83.9 
			 1999 1,659,210 88.5 
			 2000 1,575,320 89.8 
			 2001 1,490,224 91.6 
			 2002 1,462,155 87.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Dairy herd—holdings with dairy cows producing milk.
	2. Dairy cows—all cows and heifers that have calved.
	3. 1998 and 1999 figures refer to main holdings only. 2000 onwards—main and minor holdings.
	Source:
	June agricultural census—England.

Dairy Farming

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on dairy farmers of the (a) contractual and (b) price setting behaviour of the largest five UK supermarket chains.

Ben Bradshaw: We have made no specific assessment of the impact on dairy farmers of the contractual and price setting behaviour of the largest five UK supermarket chains. However, a detailed investigation into the supply of groceries from supermarkets was carried out by the Competition Commission in 1999–2000. The Commission concluded that, taking all matters into consideration, the industry was broadly competitive. It did, however, identify three situations where competition was distorted and operates against the public interest. These concerned the relationship between supermarkets and their suppliers and certain pricing practices. The Commission's report, which was published in October 2000, can be found at http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/completed/2000/index.htm

Dairy Farming

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the likely effect of reform of the Common Agricultural Policy on future prices per litre of milk.

Ben Bradshaw: When fully implemented, the reforms agreed in June in Luxembourg will reduce the support price for butter by 10 per cent. more than the 15 per cent. reduction originally agreed for both butter and skimmed milk powder under Agenda 2000 (ie a 25 per cent. cut in the support price for butter). If farmgate prices were to fall to the same extent, the price per litre might be reduced by a further 0.95p beyond the impact of Agenda 2000. However, we share the European Commission's assessment that farmgate prices are unlikely to settle at this level: indeed, the overall package of compensation agreed reflects this. (Producers will be compensated through an increase in the level of direct payments of a further 0.74ppl over and above the compensation originally agreed in Agenda 2000.) The figures quoted above are based on an exchange rate of 70p/euro.
	Our economic assessment indicates that decoupling of direct payments from production will have a beneficial effect on farm incomes; we would expect the main dairy-specific price impact to be in relation to the value of milk quota.

Energy Efficiency

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she will double the rate of energy efficiency improvement in order to meet targets for 2020 set out in the Energy White Paper.

Ben Bradshaw: The Energy White Paper makes clear that energy efficiency is expected to deliver about half the carbon savings needed to meet our carbon emission reduction goals for 2020. This will mean roughly doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement of recent decades.
	A wide range of policies and measures to encourage energy efficiency across the economy is already in place, including Climate Change Agreements, the work of the Energy Saving and Carbon Trusts to promote energy efficiency in the household and business sectors, the Energy Efficiency Commitment, UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), and updated Building Regulations.
	Key measures proposed in the White Paper include extension of the Energy Efficiency Commitment beyond 2005 at possibly twice its current level of activity; further improvements in the Building Regulations, faster improvements in the standards of new household appliances; and consultation on economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency, as well as other measures for the business and public sectors.
	The Government intend to publish an Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan within a year of the White Paper's publication, which will provide further detail on all of these policies.

Energy Efficiency

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on plans to improve energy efficiency in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: The Energy White Paper details the steps being taken to encourage greater energy efficiency in the UK, and sets out an ambitious strategy for energy efficiency up to 2010 and beyond. Energy efficiency is expected to deliver about half the carbon savings needed to meet our goals for 2020. This will mean roughly doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement of recent decades.
	Key measures proposed in the White Paper include extension of the Energy Efficiency Commitment beyond 2005 at possibly twice its current level of activity; improvements in building standards through further revisions to the Building Regulations; and faster improvements in the standards of new household appliances.
	The Government intend to publish an Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan within a year of the White Paper's publication, which will provide further detail on all of these policies.

Farm Borrowing

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) total level of borrowing of British farmers and (b) average level of borrowing per farm in the United Kingdom was in the last year for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows:
	(a) In 2001, the liabilities of United Kingdom agriculture amounted to £9.5 billion. This figure includes: mortgages; bank loans; family loans; leasing; hire purchase; trade credit; bank overdrafts; and other liabilities.
	(b) In 2001–02, the average closing value of borrowings on farm businesses in England was nearly £91,000. This estimate is based on Farm Business Survey data, which are a sample of full-time farm businesses. Farms in the sample subject to compulsory cull due to foot and mouth disease in 2001–02 have been excluded. Average borrowings for the United Kingdom are not available, but estimates for the other UK countries are available separately in the publication "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom" (http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/publications/fiuk/default.asp)

Farm Diversification

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance is being provided for farmers to (a) diversify and (b) generate income from new sources.

Alun Michael: The Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food clearly sets out the scope of the assistance available to help farmers diversify their sources of income and to generate income from other sources.
	Defra offers grants for good diversification projects under the Rural Enterprise Scheme, which forms part of the England Rural Development Programme. The Department also provides free consultancy advice on land use planning issues to farmers who intend to pursue a diversification project through the Rural Enterprise Scheme. Defra's Rural Development Service has been running business planning seminars in a number of regions to help potential applicants work up project proposals which meet the scheme requirements.
	There are many types of farm business and no single approach to income generation will be appropriate to all. The England Rural Development Programme provides support for a range of other opportunities, including organic farming, processing and marketing primary agricultural products, establishing energy crops and woodland, environmental stewardship under the agri-environment schemes, and training in the skills farmers may need to pursue new opportunities.
	The Department is also considering how to improve the provision of help and information to farmers considering the diversification of their business base. The Farm Business Advice Service provides up to three days of free advice based around a business health-check and results in a business action plan. The service can help farmers decide whether or not to diversify and will direct them to other sources of support.

Farm Incomes

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimates she has made of overall farm income in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002.

Ben Bradshaw: Total income from farming in the UK is estimated to have increased by 15 per cent. (14 per cent. in real terms) from £2.0 billion in 2001 to £2.4 billion in 2002.
	Total income from farming per whole-time person equivalent rose by 19 per cent. (18 per cent. in real terms) from £9.3 thousand to £11.1 thousand between 2001 and 2002.
	Total income from farming is income generated by production within the agriculture industry, including subsidies. It represents business profits plus remuneration for work done by owners and other unpaid workers.

Farm Incomes

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the level of income in (a) farming, (b) pig production and (c) other livestock production in the last year for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table gives estimated average net farm incomes 1 for different types of farm businesses in England for 2001–02. Farms in the sample subject to compulsory cull due to Foot and Mouth disease in 2001 have been excluded. Estimated incomes for 2002–03 will be published on 27 November 2003.
	
		Average net farm income per full time farm business, England 2001–02
		
			  £ 
		
		
			  
			  
			 All farm types 13,600 
			 Specialist pigs 20,400 
			 Dairy 30,700 
			 Hill cattle and sheep 7,900 
			 Lowland cattle and sheep 0 
		
	
	Source:
	Farm Business Survey
	(1) Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant-type capital of the business.

Farm Medicines

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received about the cost of farm medicines; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Following earlier complaints about the cost of veterinary medicines from both farmers and other animal owners, MAFF Ministers referred the issue to the Office of Fair Trading. The Competition Commission then carried out an inquiry into the distribution of prescription only veterinary medicines in the UK. The Competition Commission published their Report on 11 April 2003 which included 9 remedies addressed to the Office of Fair Trading and 11 recommendations addressed to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The Government response to the Report was issued on 9 July 2003.
	I met with representatives of the BVA on 9 September 2003 to hear their views on the Competition Commission's recommendations and I have received 8 letters following the Commission's Report from veterinary surgeons and veterinary organisations about the cost of farm medicines. The Competition Commission's recommendations that the Government has accepted are being implemented in consultation with interested parties.

Farm Produce Prices

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what resources will be available to assist farming communities affected by the fall in produce prices.

Ben Bradshaw: Overall income from farming in the UK rose 15 per cent. in 2002, with the average full-time farmer earning £11,107. This was the second year running that there was an increase in farm incomes. This upward trend looks set to continue due to a recovery in the euro so far in 2003, which has led to a rise in prices across a range of commodities and will result in higher direct sterling subsidy payments.
	It is important to note that for most farm households, incomes will be enhanced by other sources of income. Furthermore, for a significant number of these households diversified income is at present higher than the income earned from farming.
	Government policy is not to attempt to intervene in the market to try and artificially increase incomes, but to facilitate the right economic framework to enable farmers to succeed, compete successfully internationally and have a profitable future.
	The Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food, launched on 12 December 2002, sets out how Government, industry and consumers will work with the whole of the food chain to secure a sustainable future for English farming and food industries, as viable industries contributing to a better environment and healthy and prosperous communities.

Farm Subsidies

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been paid to small farmers, broken down by region and nation of the UK, in respect of set aside in 2002.

Alun Michael: £1,462,507.39 was paid to small producers in England in respect of set-aside land under the 2002 Arable Area Payments Scheme broken down by the regions covered by the former MAFF Regional Service Centres as follows. The details for the other nations of the UK are a matter for their own devolved Assemblies.
	
		
			  Value of payments (£) 
		
		
			 Wessex 77,251.61 
			 Anglia 357,857.83 
			 Northern 54,357.30 
			 North Mercia 75,573.83 
			 South West 146,351.33 
			 North East 140,390.60 
			 East Midlands 184,345.21 
			 South East 296,056.08 
			 South Mercia 130,323.60

Farmers (Age Profiles)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average age is of British farmers; and how this has changed over the last 30 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The average age of holders in the United Kingdom has increased from 53 in 1975 (the earliest year for which figures are available) to 54 in 2000. The available data are shown in the table:
	
		
			  Estimated Average age of UK holders 
		
		
			 1975 53 
			 1990 53 
			 1993 53 
			 1995 54 
			 1997 53 
			 2000 54 
		
	
	Notes
	The EC Farm Structure Survey is held across all Member States of the European Union four times each decade, to assess the agricultural situation across the Community and to monitor trends in the structure of holdings.
	The holder is defined as the (natural or legal) person in whose name the holding, be a hereditary long-term leaseholder, or a usufructuary or a trustee.
	The data are collected in age bands. The average age has been calculated by utilising the mid-point of each age band. A mid point of 67 is assumed for the age band "Aged 65 and over".
	Source:EC Farm Structure Survey

Farmers (Bankruptcy)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of farmers have become bankrupt in each of the past five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Data on farming bankruptcies for England and Wales are given in the table. The last whole year for which bankruptcy figures are available is 2002, figures for 2003 are for the first two quarters. Between 1998 and 2002 total farming bankruptcies have been between 200 and 300; this represents less than 0.1 per cent. of farmers, partners and directors and their spouses 1 in England and Wales.
	
		Number of bankruptcies(3) in the agricultural and horticultural sector -- England and Wales 1998–2003
		
			  Total Bankruptcies 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1998 222 
			 1999 258 
			 2000 240 
			 2001 273 
			 2002 208 
			 2003(4) 117 
		
	
	(2) June Agricultural and Horticultural Census. Data on farmers are not separately available.
	(3) Department of Trade and Industry. Includes bankruptcies of self-employed individuals and company insolvencies.
	(4) Q1 and Q2

Farmers Markets

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the regional farm produce markets in England.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not held centrally but a list of farmers' markets selling regional farm produce can be found on the National Association of Farmers' Markets website http://www.farmersmarkets.net.

Farming

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers are working in (a) the north west, (b) Lancashire and (c) the Chorley constituency.

Ben Bradshaw: Data for the total number farmers, partners, directors and spouses combined are collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total.
	Figures for 2002 are as follows:
	
		Farmers, partners, directors and spouses (full and part time)
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 North west 27,392 
			 Lancashire CC 7,783 
			 Chorley 569 
		
	
	Note:
	The north west region includes Merseyside.
	Source:
	June 2002 Agricultural Census.

Farming

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers are in (a) dairy, (b) arable, (c) sheep, (d) beef, (e) poultry, (f) other and (g) pig farming in (i) the north west, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) Chorley.

Ben Bradshaw: Agricultural and horticultural holdings are classified annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census into nine different types.
	For 2002 the figures are:
	
		Farmers, partners, directors and spouses (full and part time) by farm type
		
			 FF farm type North west Lancashire CC Chorley 
		
		
			 Cereals 905 136 12 
			 General cropping 1,047 525 16 
			 Horticulture 1,543 677 50 
			 Pigs and poultry 1,060 408 47 
			 Dairy 7,381 2,062 123 
			 Cattle and sheep (LFA) 5,683 1,565 44 
			 Cattle and sheep (lowland) 5,300 1,209 143 
			 Mixed 1,231 272 40 
			 Other types 3,242 930 95 
			 All types 27,392 7,783 569 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. LFA—less favoured area.
	2. The north west region includes Merseyside.
	Source:
	June 2002 Agricultural Census.

Farming

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy cows there were in each of the last five years; and what the average size of dairy herds was in each year in (a) the north west, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley.

Ben Bradshaw: Data for dairy cows are collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total.
	For the last five years the figures are:
	
		Dairy cows and average dairy herd size
		
			  North west Lancashire CC Chorley 
		
		
			 1998
			 Dairy cows 354,937 86,178 4,984 
			 Average dairy herd size 83.9 78.7 73.1 
			 
			 1999
			 Dairy cows 361,748 86,728 4,713 
			 Average dairy herd size 88.5 81.9 71.7 
			 
			 2000
			 Dairy cows 348,150 83,038 4,658 
			 Average dairy herd size 92.9 85.1 76.2 
			 
			 2001
			 Dairy cows 289,194 83,402 4,748 
			 Average dairy herd size 94.9 88.8 80.3 
			 
			 2002
			 Dairy cows 315,908 78,498 4,628 
			 Average dairy herd size 90.7 86.1 79.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The north west region includes Merseyside.
	2. Dairy cows—holdings with dairy cows producing milk.
	3. Dairy herd—holdings with dairy cows producing milk and heifers in first calf.
	4. 1993 to 1999 figures refer to main holdings only. 2000 onwards include main and minor holdings.
	Source:
	June Agricultural Census.

Farming

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers left the industry in the last five years in (a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley.

Ben Bradshaw: Data for the total number farmers, partners, directors and spouses combined are collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total. Figures are not available for each item.
	Figures for the last five years show net changes only and include gains as well as losses.
	The available figures cover all holdings for 2000–02 and only main holdings for 1998 and 1999.
	
		Farmers, partners, directors and spouses (full and part-time)
		
			  North west Lancashire CC Chorley 
		
		
			  Main holdings only 
			 1998 26,536 7,444 500 
			 1999 26,024 7,364 508 
			  Main and minor holdings 
			 2000 27,538 7,949 595 
			 2001 28,684 8,202 607 
			 2002 27,392 7,783 569 
		
	
	Note:
	The North West region includes Merseyside
	Source:
	June 2002 Agricultural Census

Farming

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the viability of the farming industry in East Sussex.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government wants the whole country's farming industry to succeed. That is why we launched the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food on 12 December 2002. The Strategy builds on the work of Sir Don Curry's Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food and provides a clear and strategic long-term direction towards a more sustainable future. The Government will work in partnership with industry and other stakeholders to implement the strategy, providing the leadership to allow farmers to flourish by their own efforts and to become better connected to markets and consumer requirements.
	We are making good progress towards delivering these objectives. Most recently through June's CAP reform agreement which represents a real shift in agricultural policy. It sets out a new course for agriculture in Europe: a sustainable future where farmers do not farm for subsidy but produce what consumers want to buy, delivering a key aim of the Strategy—reconnecting farmers to the market.
	The Government has also established an Implementation Group of nine senior independent members, chaired by Sir Don Curry, to oversee delivery. Regional delivery plans have been drawn up to co-ordinate the approach within and between different areas of the country and the delivery plan for the south-east is now in the final stages of development.

Farming

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers farm in East Sussex; and how many farmed there in 1993.

Ben Bradshaw: Data for the total number farmers, partners, directors and spouses combined are collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total.
	Figures including main holdings are available only up to 1999.
	
		Total farmers, partners, directors and spouses (full and part-time) in East Sussex
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Main holdings only  
			 1993 3,051 
			 1999 3,066 
			 Main and minor holdings  
			 2000 3,112 
			 2002 3,326 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Spouses are included only if they are working on the holding.
	2. Due to a register improvement exercise in 2001, figures prior to this are not directly comparable with later results.
	Source:
	June Agricultural Census.

Farming Industry

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of farmers she expects to leave agricultural production in the next five years.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no estimate made of the number of farmers expected to leave the industry in the future.

Great Bustard

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to reintroduce the great bustard in England; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: On the 31 October, I approved a 10-year trial reintroduction of the Great Bustard onto Salisbury Plain. This species has been extinct from England since 1832.
	The Licence permits the Great Bustard Consortium, a conservation group, to release up to 40 chicks per year onto Salisbury Plain. The first releases are not likely to be before September 2004. A further licence under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) will be required to permit the import of the chicks from Russia.
	The Department will review the trial on an annual basis in consultation with, among others, English Nature, the Joint Nature Conservancy Committee and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. It will be terminated in the event of evidence of harm to the donor population in Russia, or to native biodiversity.

Growth Promoters

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to restrict the use of growth promoters in (a) animals and (b) fish destined for human consumption.

Ben Bradshaw: The authorisation and use of antimicrobials used in farming to promote growth is subject to strict controls set down by the European Union (Council Directive 70/524/EC amended). Under these rules such products cannot be authorised unless they satisfy statutory criteria designed to ensure that, at the level permitted in feedstuffs they will not adversely affect human or animal health or the environment. Additionally they may only be used in accordance with the terms set out in an annex to the Directive, which specifies the species in which they may be used, authorised dosage rates and the withdrawal periods that must be applied before animals can be slaughtered for human consumption.
	The UK Government supported the recent adoption of a new Regulation that will replace Directive 70/524/EEC from September next year. One of the major consequences of this change will be the phasing out, across the EU, of all remaining antimicrobial growth promoters by 1 January 2006, as a precautionary measure.
	In the meantime the Government are continuing to work closely with the industry's Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance (RUMA) both to promote the responsible use of these products and in drawing up plans to assist industry to adjust to their use being banned from January 2006.

Japanese Knotweed

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to amend the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to make it a legal obligation on landowners to clear Japanese knotweed when it spreads within a site.

Ben Bradshaw: Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence for any person to plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild any plant listed in Schedule 9 of the Act, including Japanese knotweed. I have no current plans to amend the Act as the hon. Gentleman proposes.
	The Rural White Paper for England "Our Countryside; Our Future" made a commitment to review the provisions of Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 with a view to rationalising the identification and protection of rare and endangered species. This Department aims to consult on this in the near future.

Livestock Industry

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list those livestock auction markets which (a) operated in 1997 and (b) operate currently.

Ben Bradshaw: The list of livestock auction markets operating in 1997 is not readily available.
	Based principally on information provided by the Livestock Auctioneers Association the lists of livestock auction markets for England and Wales which operate currently and the closures since 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Operating currentlyEngland (99) 
			 Acklinton Andoversford Ashford Axminster Bakewell 
			 Barnard Castle Beeston Bellingham Bentham Bideford 
			 Bishop's Castle Blackmoor Gate Bridgnorth Bristol Broughton-in-Furness 
			 Carlisle Chagford Chelford Chippenham Cirencester 
			 Claughton-on-Brock Clitheroe Cockermouth Colchester Cutcombe 
			 Darlington Derby Exeter Frome Gisburn 
			 Hailsham Hallworthy Hatherleigh Hawes Hereford 
			 Hexham Highbridge Holsborthy Honiton Hull 
			 Kendal Kington Kirkby Stephen Kirkby Thore Lancaster 
			 Lazonby Leek Leominster Leyburn Liskeard 
			 Longtown Louth Ludlow Maidstone Malton 
			 Market Drayton Market Harborough Masham Melton Mowbray Middleton-in-Teesdale 
			 Newark Newton Abbot Northallerton Norwich Oswestry 
			 Otley(Wharfedale) Ponteland Reading Ross-on-Wye Rothbury 
			 Rugby Ruswarp, Nr Whitby St. Austell St. Johns Chapel Salisbury 
			 Scots Gap, Morpeth Sedbergh Selby Shaftesbury Shrewsbury 
			 Skipton South Molton Stratford-upon-Avon Taunton Tavistock 
			 Tenbury Wells Thame Thirsk Thrapston Tow Law 
			 Truro Ulverston Uttoxeter Wigton Winslow 
			 Wales (40) 
			 Abergavenny Aberystwyth Bala Brecon Bryncir 
			 Buiith Wells Cardigan Carmarthen Corwen Cowbridge 
			 Crymmych Dolgellau Gaerwen Haverfordwest Hay-on-Wye 
			 Knighton Lampeter Llandeilo Llandovery Llandysul 
			 Llanrwst Llanybydder Machynlleth Mold Neath 
			 Newcastle Newport Newtown Penybont Rhayader 
			 Emlyn Ruthin Sarn St. Asaph Sennybridge Synod Inn 
			 Talgarth Talybont-on- Usk Tregaron Welshpool Whitland 
			   
			 Closures since 1997 
			 England (53) 
			 Ashbourne Ashburton Avon Banbury Barnstaple 
			 Beccles Beverley Beverley Bishop Auckland Brickfields 
			 Bridgewater Bury St. Edmunds Cambourne Canterbury Chelmsford 
			 Chelmsford Chester Congleton Corby Glen Craven Arms 
			 Crewe Driffield Gloucester Goole Grantham 
			 Guildford Haslingden Hellifield Helston Hope 
			 Kidderminster Kingsbridge Ledbury Lichfield Newport (Salop) 
			 Northampton Oakham Otley Penistone Penkridge 
			 Penzance Plympton Preston Ripon Rye 
			 Sevenoaks Stamford Stokesley Sturminster Tetbury 
			 Wadebridge Wetherby Wickham   
			 Wales (12) 
			 Blackmill Gowerton Kinnerton Llanfair Caereinion Llangadog 
			 Llangefni Llanidloes Llanwrtyd Wells Monmouth Pembroke 
			 Talycafn Ystrad Aeron

Meat Imports

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies she has received of (a) policy on and (b) the cost of meat import controls from areas of high disease risk in (i) other EU member states and (ii) other countries.

Ben Bradshaw: We received the Cabinet Office report which included information on other EU member states. A summary of which can be found in section four of the Cabinet Office Review The Organisation of the Government's Controls of Imports of Animals, Fish, Plants and their Products' on the Cabinet Office website. We have received no further studies since then.
	The issue of controls on personal imports continues to be discussed regularly in meetings of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health in Brussels.

Meat Imports

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy on the importation of meat to the UK from South America.

Ben Bradshaw: The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy agreed in Luxembourg in June does not affect tariffs and duties on imports of meat from third countries.

Milk

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Education and Skills regarding (a) the provision of free school milk and (b) the extension of the provision of free school milk to all those aged 11 and under.

Ben Bradshaw: We have not recently held any discussions with the Department for Education and Skills relating to school milk.

Milk

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the farmgate prices for milk in the UK; and what the farmgate prices are for milk in other EU nations.

Ben Bradshaw: The table gives the most recent data available from Eurostat on the average farmgate price of milk of 3.7 per cent. fat content in euros per 100 kg for the EU 15.
	This data show the UK farmgate prices are consistently below the EU average. The reasons for this were examined by KPMG in their report on "Prices and Profitability in the British Dairy Chain", which was commissioned by the Milk Development Council. The report concluded that the lower prices were the result of the structure of the UK dairy sector, the comparatively low value of the mix of dairy products in the UK and a low level of innovation. It also suggested a number of areas where the efficiency of the dairy supply chain could be improved.
	
		Selling price of raw cows milk, 3.7 per cent. fat content:EU 15 (euros per kg)
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002(5) 
		
		
			 Belgium 27.47 26.33 27.44 29.93 26.37 
			 Denmark 30.8 30.26 30.86 32.34  
			 Germany 29.52 28.47 30 32.82 29.98 
			 Greece 32.72 33.69 33.47 35.62 34.55 
			 Spain 27.99 27.33 27.05 30.33 28.12 
			 France 28.52 28.11 28.81 29.99 29.26 
			 Ireland 27.92 26.66 27.2 28.56  
			 Italy 34.84 34.23
			 Luxembourg 31.45 30.65 30.53 32.73 31.89 
			 Netherlands 30.59 28.62 29.15 31.27 29.65 
			 Austria 27.64 27.76 27.83 31.76 30.14 
			 Portugal 28.39 28.49 28.97 32.17 32.87 
			 Finland 32.05 32.15 32.72 33.97 34.36 
			 Sweden 32.71 33.11 34.74 31.22  
			 United Kingdom 26.76 26.13 26.09 25.57  
		
	
	(5) Eurostat data for 2002 are not yet complete
	Source:
	Eurostat Cronos Database

Milk

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the UK milk quota was leased in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The table gives details of the amounts of quota leased in each of the last 10 years, both in terms of volume and as a percentage of total UK quota.
	
		
			 Quota year Amount leased (million litres) Percentage leased 
		
		
			 1994–95 1,230 8.69 
			 1995–96 1,327 9.37 
			 1996–97 1,381 9.75 
			 1997–98 1,490 10.53 
			 1998–99 1,552 10.96 
			 1999–2000 1,490 10.52 
			 2000–01 1,445 10.20 
			 2001–02 2,116 14.93 
			 2002–03 2,039 14.39 
			 2003–04 (6)194 1.37 
		
	
	(6) The figure for 2003–04 represents the current total as at 29 October. It is significantly lower than previous years, in part because the figure is not for a complete year, but also because of the effects of the Thomsen ECJ judgment (which has meant that non-producing quota holders will no longer be able to lease out their quota indefinitely). Quota holders who are no longer in active milk production will, by 31 March 2004, have to sell their milk quota, resume production, or otherwise have their quota confiscated.

Milk

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) amount and (b) proportion of the UK national milk quota was unused in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The table gives the total amounts of unused quota in the UK for the period 1993–94 to 2002–03. The entire national quota allocation (some 14.2 billion litres) was used in the years 1993–94 to 1999–2000 because the UK ended each of them slightly over the quota threshold.
	
		
			 Quota year Amount unused (million litres) Percentage unused 
		
		
			 1993–94 0 0.00 
			 1994–95 0 0.00 
			 1995–96 0 0.00 
			 1996–97 0 0.00 
			 1997–98 0 0.00 
			 1998–99 0 0.00 
			 1999–2000 0 0.00 
			 2000–01 307.4 2.17 
			 2001–02 81.9 0.58 
			 2002–03 119.4 0.84

Milk

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the UK milk quota has been held by the Government in the national reserve in each of the past five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The table gives the total amount of quota in the national reserve for each quota year from 1998–99 to 2003–04. The national reserve quota is divided between two 'pots'—the confiscated reserve holding quota to which the right to restoration applies, and the remainder holding quota which is currently used in the Temporary Reallocation of Quota scheme (designed to help producers who exceed their quota due to herd movement restrictions). Where quota is confiscated, the quota holder from whom the quota is taken reserves the right to apply for the restoration of the confiscated quota within a certain period if production recommences on the holding. At present, the period in which quota can be restored is six years; however, this has been reduced to two years under the new EU Council Regulation which comes into force on 1 April 2004.
	
		
			 Quota year Confiscated reserve (litres) National reserve (litres) Total Total as percentage of UK quota 
		
		
			 1998–99 2,193,571 3,232,752 5,426,323 0.04 
			 1999–2000 2,181,337 3,232,752 5,414,089 0.04 
			 2000–01 2,180,719 4,608,324 6,789,043 0.05 
			 2001–02 6,558,258 4,820,256 11,378,514 0.08 
			 2002–03 10,511,463 7,255,287 17,766,750 0.13 
			 2003–04 20,431,426 7,342,507 27,773,933 0.20

Milk

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the future of the milk quota system; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We have made it clear that we would like to see the milk quota system abolished. It is a bureaucratic constraint on production, it distorts the market, and it adds to the industry's costs. It was, therefore, disappointing that the Luxembourg agreement on CAP reform extended the quota system to 2014/15.
	We carried out a consultation exercise on proposed amendments to our national Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 2002 earlier this year. The proposals related to the possible introduction of two discretionary elements of the Council Regulation on milk quotas, breaking the link between quota and land and a 70 per cent. usage rule, and also some administrative changes. A summary of the responses we received is available on our website at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/responses.htm. We intend to make an announcement shortly on how we will proceed.

Organic Farming

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the level of financial support in the EU for organic farming.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not possible to comment on the direct level of financial support available in other member states since the mix of land types and crops on which aid is based varies so greatly. The latest information we have on aid available elsewhere in the European Union however suggests that the recent increase in support payments being made available under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), which is part of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) and which encourages the expansion of organic production, is generally comparable to what is available elsewhere in the Community.
	Under the OFS, farmers moving from conventional to organic farming methods receive financial help during the conversion process. From 30 May, assistance is now also being made available under the scheme for existing organic farmers who comply with certain environmental measures. The following table shows Defra's spending in the financial year 2002–03 on financial and other support for organic farming:
	
		£
		
			 Category of support Total spend 2002–03 
		
		
			 Financial support: Under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) 12,567,000 
			 Other support: Defra funding for the Organic Conversion Information Service (OCIS) 301,000 
			 Defra funding for research for development purposes which includes a large component dealing with research on organic farming 1,809,000

Organic Farming

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) financial and (b) other support was provided to organic farming in the last year for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows Defra's spending in the financial year 2002–03 on financial and other support for organic farming:
	
		£
		
			 Category of support Total Spend 2002–03 
		
		
			 (a) Financial support: Under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), which is part of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP). 12,567,000 
			 (b) Other support: Organic Conversion Information Service (OCIS). 301,000 
			 Defra funding for research for development purposes which includes a large component dealing with research on organic farming. 1,809,000

Pet Ownership

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she communicates messages on responsible pet ownership to pet owners; and if she will encourage pet owners to insure their pets.

Ben Bradshaw: Local and national media, including specialist magazines, leaflets, advertisements and the internet are used to communicate messages from welfare organisations and pet owners' groups on the care of pets. A decision on whether to take out pet insurance is for individual owners.

Pig Farming

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the size of the national pig herd is; what estimates she has made of the likely size of the pig herd over the next five years; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The provisional results of the June 2003 survey of agriculture show that the UK pig herd had fallen to 5,039 thousand head. This is a 38 per cent. decline in the size of the UK pig herd since June 1998 (five years ago) when the UK pig herd was 8,146 thousand head. The future size of the pig herd will depend on the profitability of the sector. Profitability will be influenced by several factors, including exchange rates, the expansion of the EU and the ability of the industry to deal with diseases that are currently affecting sow productivity.

Pig Farming

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the viability of the British pig industry.

Ben Bradshaw: Profitability in the pig sector typically fluctuates over time as market prices follow a cyclical path. Productivity and performance also vary considerably within the sector. Average profitability has generally been positive in 2003 largely due to weaker sterling and stronger prices. Raising the average level of performance across the industry will be key to sustaining industry profitability over the longer term. Estimates of 2003 net margins in the pig sector are found in the report 'Economic Position of the farming industry', published on the Defra Website at http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/reports/repfi.pdf.

Pig Farming

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the enforcement of welfare standards for pigs.

Ben Bradshaw: The primary responsibility for enforcing the new pig welfare regulations—The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003 No. 299)—and checking that the pig welfare codes are being observed—lies with the State Veterinary Service (SVS) and local authorities.
	The SVS check welfare on pig farms on both random and targeted bases and also make checks following complaints from the public. The SVS measure welfare on pig farms by assessing levels of compliance with standards set by the legislation and Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock: Pigs. In cases of non-compliance, the action to gain a resolution is taken, ranging from advice to prosecution.
	The detailed computerised system which reports the results of welfare inspections by the SVS was upgraded on 1 January 2000. The data on checks on farms are analysed to enable the SVS better to target inspections. A summary of the results of checks conducted on pig farms by the SVS in 2002 was published in the report of the Chief Veterinary Officer "Animal Health 2002" (Defra Publication PB 8258, or at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/publications/pubcat/cvo/2002/index.htm).

Sheep Exports

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which port the MV Caroline is using to carry live sheep exports from the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: The MV Caroline has used the ports at Dover and Berwick upon Tweed for exports of live sheep from the UK.

Sheep Exports

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many live sheep were exported from Berwick to continental Europe on 26 August; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey (a) during inspection for health certification purposes and (b) at the docks, and to where those sheep were taken; and what the address was of the final destination given on the route plan for each of the consignments.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Sheep Exports
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 26 August 2003 
			 Total animals 1,711 
			 Where consignments were certified England and Scotland 
			 Animals rejected at certification 75 
			 Animals rejected at Berwick docks 0 
			 Destination Netherlands 
		
	
	The sheep for the consignment above were certified within 24 hours prior to export. There were 75 animals rejected during health certification which remained in Great Britain. The consignment was for sheep for further fattening which were transported to holdings in Netherlands.

Sheep Exports

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on 11 September; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey, (a) during inspection for health certification purposes and (b) at Dover docks and to where those sheep were taken; and what the address was of the final destination given on the route plan for each of the consignments.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Sheep Exports
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 11 September 2003 
			 Total animals 2,726 
			 Where consignments were certified England and Scotland 
			 Animals rejected at certification 18 
			 Animals rejected at Dover docks 0 
			 Destination Netherlands and France 
		
	
	The sheep for the consignment above were certified within 24 hours prior to export. There were 18 animals rejected during health certification which remained in Great Britain. The consignment was for sheep for further fattening which were transported to holdings in France and Netherlands.

Sustainable Development

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with colleagues in other Departments on (a) delivery of sustainable development and (b) promoting sustainable energy sources.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs chairs the Sustainable Development Task Force, which is focused on the delivery of sustainable development and brings together Ministers and key stakeholders. At the last meeting, on 15 October, papers on progress on renewable energy and energy efficiency; water and sanitation; and sustainable consumption and production were discussed. Task Force papers and minutes can be found on the Government's sustainable development website (www.sustainable-development.gov.uk).
	My right hon. Friend and the Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry co-chair a new Ministerial Implementation Group that oversees delivery of the objectives set out in the Energy White Paper, including development of sustainable energy sources. The first two meetings of the Committee were held on 10 July and 9 October.

Wildlife Protection

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent measures she has put in place to improve protection for wildlife.

Ben Bradshaw: The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) is the principal source of legislation which offers protection for native wildife. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which came into force in January 2001, also introduced stronger enforcement powers for police officers investigating native species wildlife offences, and tougher penalties—including prison sentences—for people found guilty of committing offences under the 1981 Act.
	Protection of wildlife often involves the protection of their habitat. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 introduced substantial improvements to the legislative regime protecting our nationally important designated areas for wildlife and geology, more commonly known as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
	The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, implements the EC Habitats Directive in Great Britain, and provides further protection to various species and their habitats. The Government has consulted on a number of further improvements to the Habitat Regulations and on regulations to transpose the Habitats Directive to cover an area offshore. To date the Government has classified 242 Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive and submitted 601 candidate Special Areas of Conservation to the European Commission under the EC Habitats Directive in the UK. Additionally 27 new Ramsar sites in the UK have been notified since 1999.
	In addition to species protection through the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Habitats Regulations 1994 this Government also puts great effort into supporting the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES). This regulates trade in endangered or vulnerable animals and plants, and products derived from them, to ensure that the trade is sustainable. For example, at last year's Conference of Parties in Chile, the UK successfully proposed the listing of basking sharks on Appendix II of the Convention, protecting them from unsustainable and unregulated international trade.
	The Department, together with HM Customs and Excise and the police, rigorously enforces the UK's commitments under CITES, campaigns vigorously to increase public awareness of the CITES controls, and takes firm action against anyone caught illegally importing endangered species in breach of the European CITES Regulations.
	The Government also launched the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit in 2002. It is a national focal point for gathering and analysing intelligence on serious wildlife crime, and is making an important contribution to the fight against these crimes at the national and international levels.
	In addition to the range of protective measures, the Government has also put in place a number of measures to encourage efforts to deliver benefits for wildlife, such as Species and Habitat Action Plans and agri-environment schemes.
	Action plans for the conservation and enhancement of 45 habitats and 391 species have been published under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Under section 74 (2) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 a list of habitats and species of principal importance for the conservation of biological diversity in England was published in December 2002. The list can be viewed at http://defraweb/wildlife-countryside/cl/habitats/habitats-list.pdf.
	Section 74 (3) of the Act requires the Secretary of State to take or promote the taking by others of steps to further the conservation of the habitats and species of principal importance in England. In October 2002 the Government published Working with the grain of nature—a biodiversity strategy for England. The strategy aims to ensure that consideration of biodiversity is embedded into all relevant areas of public and private policy. It is the principal means by which we will comply with the duty under section 74 (3), including through continued implementation of the habitat and species action plans. The strategy can be viewed at http://defraweb/wildlife-countryside/ewd/biostrat/index.htm
	Considerable efforts are currently being made to increase the efforts we put into farmland biodiversity including encouragement to enhance wildlife populations. Significant funding is provided for agri-environment schemes promoting environmentally sustainable farming practices; more than £1 billion has been made available for the seven-year period 2000 to 2007.
	As part of our aim of streamlining and simplifying existing schemes whilst also improving their effectiveness we introduced in February this year a pilot entry level scheme to reward simple management practices designed to benefit a range of biodiversity and landscape objectives. If successful the Government will roll out the scheme throughout England in 2005.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ethiopia

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what plans he has to provide aid to address health problems in Ethiopia.

Hilary Benn: We support health in Ethiopia in a number of ways. Our plans for development partnership include direct budget support to assist the implementation of Ethiopia's poverty reduction strategy, This should benefit health, in accordance with Ethiopia's own priorities. Details of this are set out in our Country Assistance Plan for Ethiopia; an initial contribution of £10 million budget support was made earlier this year.
	In addition we contribute to the health sector through our support to help improve the effectiveness of the national response to HIV/AIDS, and we support emergency humanitarian health interventions where urgent needs are identified.

Ethiopia

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the famine relief programme in Ethiopia in 2002–03.

Hilary Benn: The famine relief programme was reasonably timely, well resourced, and well implemented The possibility of famine was identified early and help was quickly sought from external donors who responded generously. The primary response was the provision of food aid to selected communities and targeted households with communities. Our monitoring indicates that the food was sent and distributed according to the plan.
	In some areas high level of humanitarian need persisted in spite of the provision of food aid, reflecting the need for medical and public health interventions. DFID also provided this additional support in these areas.
	Looking ahead we recognise that food aid is not always the best, or only vehicle. We are looking into alternative approaches with other donors and with the Government of Ethiopia.

Afghanistan

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what steps he is taking to assist farmers in Afghanistan with the introduction of crops other than opium.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: We have doubled our alternative livelihoods budget for Afghanistan to £20 million over 3 years. This includes a £5.4 million contribution to the £70 million UK Drug Strategy for Afghanistan. We are designing a fund to research into alternative crops. It is equally important, however, to develop non-farm alternative livelihoods to ensure longer term sustainability. DFID projects in Badakshan and Eastern Hazarajat are developing sustainable economic alternatives and social incentives to enable farmers to stop growing poppy.

Afghanistan

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what assessment he has made of the value of UK development aid to Afghanistan in the last two years.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The UK has provided £150 million in development assistance over the last two years, Afghanistan has make tremendous progress although great challenges remain and it will take time to reduce poverty. We have supported the establishment of the new government in Afghanistan with financial assistance and technical advice. We have also supported UN efforts to re-open schools and provide health care.

UN Special Session

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the outcome of the UN General Assembly Special Session on financing for development.

Hilary Benn: The United Nations High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development confirmed the continuing engagement of the international community in the process begun at Monterrey in 2002. There was consensus on the need to get the Doha Development Agenda back on track; provide more and better aid; improve the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative; and overcome obstacles to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals such as HIV/AIDS and conflict, I confirmed UK commitment to multilateralism, especially on trade; promoted our proposals for an International Finance Facility; and called for a better managed international and UN response to conflict and humanitarian crises.

Kenya

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on development assistance for Kenya.

Hilary Benn: The aim of British development assistance to Kenya is to reduce poverty. Direct assistance in 2002–03 totalled over £42 million, including an allocation of £10 million to respond to the new Government's drive towards universal free primary education. We also support HIV/AIDS prevention and care, reproductive health care, malaria prevention, private sector development, public sector reform and initiatives to promote civic education and improved access to justice for poor people. In addition Britain contributes substantially through multilateral agencies, including over £4 million towards EC budget support for Kenya provided in June 2003.

Drinking Water

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the steps being taken by the Government towards meeting target 10 of the UN Millennium Development Goals on the supply of potable water.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Government are committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goal targets on water and sanitation. These include halving, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and the adoption of national policies and strategies for integrated water resources management in all developing countries by 2005. In 1999–2001 the UK was the fourth largest donor in the water sector, behind Japan, the United States and Germany.
	Our strategy is described in 'Addressing the Water Crisis—Healthier and More Productive Lives for Poor People', which was launched in March 2001. It stresses the importance of the improved management of water resources to benefit the lives of the world's poor. A copy has been deposited in the Library. Our development assistance is provided in response to our partner countries' needs as driven by their Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). We are working actively with their governments to support production of PRSPs and to ensure that water and sanitation issues are adequately represented.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's aid programme in Iraq, with particular reference to the protection and safety of aid workers.

Hilary Benn: DFID has committed £209 million towards humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq. About £151 million of this funding is being channelled through the United Nations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and non-governmental organisations. At the Madrid Donors' Conference on Iraq, on 23 to 24 October, the Government announced that the UK would commit a further £296 million towards reconstruction in Iraq up to March 2006, including £29 million as our share of planned European Community spending.
	In the current security circumstances in Iraq, the safety of aid workers is of particular concern. In view of recent attacks on their offices, it is fully understandable that the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations should review their security procedures and ways of working, even if that means temporarily reducing their presence in the country. DFID has offered £3 million towards UN security measures in response to an appeal following the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad in August. DFID has also offered additional finance, if needed, for increased security provisions for those NGOs that we are supporting in Iraq. DFID, and other Government Departments, have put in place special security provisions for their own staff working in Iraq.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he estimates there is adequate clean water for the rations of infant formula being delivered in Iraq; and what measures are being taken to encourage breast feeding.

Hilary Benn: 50 per cent. of Iraqis now have access to piped water and the Ministry of Public Works plan to increase this to 70 per cent. by December 2004. In addition, water tankering by UNICEF provides 14.6 million litres of water to deprived areas of Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, and Kirkuk, benefiting over 825,000 people.
	UNICEF promotes breast feeding among its activities for child development, and assists malnourished children in therapeutic feeding centres. Despite the security situation, they are still implementing a number of programmes including health education and breastfeeding promotion.

Palestine

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK aid to the occupied Palestinian territories.

Hilary Benn: Working closely with other donors, and maintaining flexibility, are key ways in which we seek to maintain effectiveness in the current volatile political, social and economic environment. Lately the international development effort has moved towards shorter-term support for the immediate needs of the Palestinian people. According to World Bank analysis, direct budget support has proved to be the most effective aid instrument in the current circumstances, allowing the Palestinian Authority to maintain basic service delivery, while providing significant macro-economic benefits. The welfare impact of this support has been significant: as poverty and unemployment levels have risen, the extended coverage of public sector salaries has provided an essential safety net for many families and communities. Our support for service delivery through UNRWA and NGOs has also been important in mitigating the effects of the worsening humanitarian situation.
	There are, however, limits to what development assistance can achieve. Poverty reduction can only be addressed significantly in the context of a just peace settlement and the creation of a viable Palestinian state, What is most needed to reduce poverty is relaxation of Israeli curfews, closures and checkpoints, and eventual withdrawal, so the economy can grow again.

Aceh

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the impact the imposition of martial law in Aceh on 15 May has had on the work of aid workers; what representations he has made to the head of the Aceh Martial Law Administration, and when; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The imposition of martial law in Aceh on 15 May, and the subsequent increased restrictions on access for non-Indonesians, have severely impacted on the ability of aid workers to operate in Aceh. No international NGOs are currently working in Aceh, and the UN has only a very limited presence in the province. However most aid organisations have found ways of working through local partners.
	The UK, through the Tokyo Group of donors in Jakarta (the United States, Japan, European Union and the World Bank), are encouraging a return to negotiations and a peaceful solution to the conflict in Aceh. The recent Tokyo Group statement calls for improved access for international agencies, NGOs and for the impact on the people of Aceh to be minimized. In addition to this, the British Ambassador to Indonesia wrote to the Indonesian Government in August 2003 requesting that NGOs be granted permission to return to Aceh, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, stressed to President Megawati in June 2003 that Indonesian military action in Aceh should be proportionate and in accordance with international standards on human rights. We have not approached the head of the Aceh Martial Law Administration as our concerns about the situation in Aceh are raised through the Indonesian Central Government.

Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the proposed oil pipeline from Baku to Ceyhan.

Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement made on 5 November, which sets out DFID's position on funding by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.
	On 11 November the Executive Board of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) also approved non-concessional funding for the pipeline. DFID took the same position on funding for the BTC project by EBRD as we did by IFC.

Bechtel

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: There have been no contracts issued by DFID.

Control Risk Group

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the purpose of the contract awarded to Control Risk Group for an armed protection team.

Hilary Benn: The contract to Control Risks Group is to provide security support services for DFID staff working in Iraq.

Croatia

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the results were of the £315,756 contract awarded to P-E International PCL to offer support to Ministry of European integration in Croatia; and if he will make a statement on its priority within his Department's budget.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: It is too early to assess the results of the £315,756 contract awarded to PE International PCL. However, the Croatian Government has indicated the importance it attaches to this support. The project commenced in February 2003 and is due to be completed in February 2004. DFID's support is assisting the Croatian Ministry of European Integration to plan and manage the process of European Integration. The assistance is a key component of DFID's bilateral programme to Croatia, supporting national and European Union objectives. Public administration reform will continue to be a priority for the DFID's work in Croatia.

Debt Management

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the UK is supporting debt management capacity-building programmes; and whether this support is available to all heavily indebted poor countries.

Hilary Benn: Since 1998, the UK has been co-financing the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Capacity Building Programme (CBP) with four other donors; two further donors have since joined the consortium. The Programme aims to build the capacity of HIPC countries to analyse and manage their debt position, and to negotiate debt relief with creditors and the International Financial Institutions. The CBP works with four regional organisations—three based in Africa and one in Latin America. The Programme is now in its third phase. One of the main objectives of this phase is to turn these organisations into centres of excellence, so that they are able to provide lasting high quality training, advisory and advocacy support to their HIPC member states in key issues of debt management. DFID has committed over £4 million to the Project and, through its bilateral programmes, has also funded individual activities under the CBP, such as Debt Advisers for Guyana and Rwanda and strategy workshops in Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda. To date, 36 out of a total of 42 HIPC countries have benefited from the Programme.

Ghana

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects Ghana to receive benefit from being a qualifier for highly indebted poor country debt relief; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Ghana qualified for relief under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in February 2002, when it started to receive debt relief. Under the Initiative, countries qualify for relief in two stages. The first stage is Decision Point, when they start to receive interim relief on their "flow" of payments. During this interim period, countries such as Ghana are not required to service their debt and cease to make debt service payments. The second stage, Completion Point, is reached when HIPC governments have demonstrated progress in tackling poverty. At this final stage they receive an irrevocable reduction in their stock of debt. HIPC countries spend the savings from debt relief on their poverty reduction programmes, thereby increasing resources for social expenditure. Ghana is expected to reach its Completion Point in mid 2004, provided its poverty reduction strategy is implemented satisfactorily.

Global Fund

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total funding contributed in 2003 by the United Kingdom to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria was; and what plans there are to increase the contribution for 2004.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Since 1997, the Department for International Development has stepped up its spending on HIV/AIDS from £38 million in 1997–98 to more than £270 million in 2002–03. According to UNAIDS, UK is currently the second largest bilateral donor active in the field of HIV/AIDS.
	Since May 1997 DFID has committed over £1.5 billion to support the development of health systems in partner countries. This will help to build capacity to deliver medicines to the poor and assist them in making effective choices about the selection of drugs.
	The UK has a long-term commitment to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria and recognises that in order to be effective it needs predictable and sustainable financing. The UK recently extended its pledge by a further two years to 2008 bringing our total contribution to US$280 million.
	The pattern of our disbursements has been agreed with the Global Fund Secretariat—for the financial year 2003–04 the UK has provided £25 million, and for the financial year 2004–05 we will provide £30 million.
	UK funding will be subject to the GFATM reflecting a clear poverty focus, achieving a better financing system, integrating the Fund's activities more effectively with national programmes and meeting agreed benchmarks to monitor its effectiveness. I am pleased to report that good progress was made at the recent sixth board meeting in Thailand on many of these issues.

Land Mines

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on aid to fund land mine clearance.

Hilary Benn: DFID is a strong supporter of global humanitarian demining. Since 1997 the Department has provided in excess of £70 million for Global Demining. The following table provides a breakdown.
	
		Figures for Global Demining 1997–2003 -- £ million
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03(7) 2003–04(8) 
		
		
			 UNICEF — — 1 1 — 0.15 0.65 
			 United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) — — — 1 1 1 1 
			 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) — — — 1 2.1 2.6 1 
			 Bilateral Programmes 4.3 3.5 16 14.4 6 8.2 7.5 
			 Research and Knowledge (including the Geneva Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD)) 0.38 0.43 0.7 2 1.5 1.5 1.5 
			 Total 4.68 3.93 17.7 19.4 10.6 13.45 11.65 
		
	
	(7) Includes Afghanistan
	(8) Includes Afghanistan and Iraq

HIV/AIDS Drug Programme

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Department is contributing to the World Health Organisation's AIDS/HIV drug procurement programme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The WHO's HIV/AIDS drug procurement programme is an initiative that we welcome and look forward to its launch on 1 December. I will write to my hon. Friend for Leeds, West with more details once the programme has been launched.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) UN Force and (b) UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo representatives there are in the Democratic Republic of Congo; what plans there are to increase this number; what plans there are to send British troops; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	Currently there are 8,045 military personnel and 61 civilian police personnel in the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC). There are also 606 international civilian staff and 704 local civilian personnel. UN Security Council Resolution 1493 of 28 July 2003 increased the authorised maximum troop level to 10,800 and there are plans to increase the actual number of military personnel to 10,300 by mid-November 2003. At present, there are six UK personnel in MONUC in key HQ positions.

Market Research

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list each item of market and opinion research commissioned since May 1997 by (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible; what the purpose of each item was; and whether the results were published.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In 1998, the Department for International Development (DFID) undertook baseline qualitative and quantitative research among the UK public and opinion leaders. The purpose was (1) to explore existing attitudes to and perceptions of Britain's overseas development programme; (2) to understand how language and communications relating to international development work might be improved; (3) to pre-test new concepts and identify approaches that achieve real domestic resonance. The results of the research are published on the Department's website.
	DFID commissions two annual public opinion polls. Both polls monitor public attitudes to and support for international development. One (undertaken annually since 1999) monitors the opinion of the UK adult population and the results are used to inform, and monitor the impact of, the development awareness work of the Department. The second (undertaken annually since 2000) monitors the opinion of schoolchildren and the results are used to inform, and monitor the impact of, the development education work of the Department. The results of both polls are published on the Department's website.
	This year, DFID commissioned focus group research. The purpose is to research how we can increase levels of understanding of, and support for, international development within the UK. When the results are available, they will be published on the Department's website.
	Since May 1997, no DFID agencies or non-departmental public bodies have commissioned market or opinion research.

Meteoric Tactical Solutions

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the purpose was of the contract awarded to Meteoric Tactical Solutions (PTY) Ltd. for close protection.

Hilary Benn: The contract awarded to Meteoric Tactical Solutions (PTY) Ltd. is to provide security support services for DFID staff working in Iraq.

Millennium Development Goal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal to halve the proportion of people in the world without safe access to water and sanitation by 2015; and what additional funds will be made available to water and sanitation projects to reach the Millennium Development Goal.

Hilary Benn: The Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000, produced by the World Health Organisation (WHO)/United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)) Joint Monitoring Programme, provides baseline figures on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Among the main findings are:
	(a) The percentage of people served with some form of improved water supply rose from 79 per cent. in 1990 to 82 per cent. in 2000. Over the same period the proportion of the world's population with access to sanitation facilities increased from 55 per cent. to 60 per cent.;
	(b) At the beginning of 2000 one-sixth (1.1 billion people) of the world's population was without access to improved water supply and two fifths (2.4 billion people) lacked access to improved sanitation The majority of these people lived in Asia and Africa;
	(c) Although an enormous number of people gained access to services between 1990 and 2000, with approximately 816 million additional people gaining access to water supplies and 747 million people gaining access to sanitation facilities, the percentage increases appear modest because of global population growth during that time;
	(d) The water supply and sanitation sector will face enormous challenges over the coming decades. The assessment estimates that, to achieve the 2015 target in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean alone, an additional 2.2 billion people will need access to sanitation and 1.5 billion will need access to water supply by that date.
	The Joint Monitoring Programme is continuing. DFID has provided substantial financial support and technical assistance to this initiative from the outset. The Government remains firmly committed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDG targets for water and sanitation are central to DFID's approach to poverty reduction and sustainable development and they remain important priorities for DFID.
	We are working actively with partner country governments to support production of their own agendas for development, known as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, and toensure that water and sanitation are adequately represented in them.
	The Global Assessment 2000 can be accessed on: http://www.who.int/docstore/water sanitation health/Globassessment/GlobalTOC.htm

Southern African States

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the policies of southern African states towards minority groups.

Hilary Benn: The only recent assessment my Department has made on this subject is a study commissioned in 2002 on options for the international community to respond to the situation of the San in Botswana. This has been placed in the Library of the House.

Uganda

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on aid to Uganda for HIV projects.

Hilary Benn: We are addressing HIV/AIDS in Uganda through an HIV Umbrella Programme, which has an allocation of £6.2 million for 2002–2005. Our Programme's purpose is to improve the coordination and monitoring of the Uganda's Strategic HIV/AIDS Framework. This Framework is an important component of Uganda's overall Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), and aims to: monitor HIV prevalence; provide guidance for activities aimed at preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and mitigating its effects; and help mobilise resources to implement national AIDS programmes. UK assistance also supports the Government of Uganda's improving its own capacity to take effective action against HIV/AIDS, plus service delivery and research on HIV/AIDS by civil society organisations.

Women's Poverty

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures his Department is taking to address women's poverty.

Hilary Benn: The majority of the world's poor are women. Women's empowerment and equality are central preconditions for sustainable poverty elimination.
	The elimination of women's poverty, and the pursuit of gender equality in all areas of development, lie at the heart of DFID's work. The focus is on supporting changes in policy, laws and attitudes, while maintaining links with work at the grassroots. This combines specific activities aimed at empowering women with a commitment to put concerns about gender equality into the mainstream of development programmes. DFID supports action through three channels; support to government, civil society and the private sector; collaboration and coordination with international development organisations such as the United Nations; and through building capacity and information through research and knowledge development.
	More details about DFID's strategy and programmes are set out in the DFID publication 'Poverty Elimination and the Empowerment of Women'. I shall send a copy to my hon. Friend.

Zimbabwe

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received from departmental officials on feeding schemes in Zimbabwe; and if he will publish them.

Hilary Benn: DFID officials provide frequent reports on the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. As we move into the period of more serious food shortages this material will be used to update Parliament and the public, including through the DFID website. Public reporting of DFID-funded food aid programmes in Zimbabwe is already extensive. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reports quarterly on the Emergency Operation. The reports are distributed to all interested parties and are published on the WFP website. The latest WFP quarterly report (July to September) has just been released. DFID's recent pledge of £5 million to WFP will enable them to increase the coverage of their monitoring and also the frequency of their reports to a monthly basis.
	The UN website for Humanitarian Information (Reliefweb) provides published reports on NGO and non-food operations in addition to WFP reports. Other relevant information can be found on the website of the Southern African Humanitarian Information Management System (SAHIMS).

Zimbabwe

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is giving to those countries bordering Zimbabwe to help them deal with people who are fleeing across the border from Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: To date the Governments of Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia have not sought specific assistance from the UK to cope with this issue, additional to our ongoing programmes directed to poverty reduction. We are keeping in touch with relevant authorities and non-government organisations in the region about migration issues. We stand ready to respond to requests for help if necessary.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Equality

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister for Women what duty the new Equality and Human Rights Commission will have to promote equality in all areas.

Patricia Hewitt: Promoting equality and diversity will be fundamental to the role of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. As I said in my written statement to the House of 30 October, I shall be establishing a task force with members representing the interests concerned to provide advice on key issues for the CEHR in preparation for a White Paper setting out proposals for the CEHR in the spring. These will include proposals for the CEHR's statutory powers and duties.

Equality

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister for Women what plans she has to introduce a public sector duty to promote gender equality.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government are taking forward a significant legislative agenda on equality matters, and has committed itself to introduce a duty on public bodies to promote equality of opportunity for women and men generally when parliamentary time allows.

Women's Appointments

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister for Women what steps she is taking to increase the number of women in senior positions which require professional qualifications.

Patricia Hewitt: We are working in partnership with organisations to increase the number of women in senior positions across the labour market, including women with professional qualifications.
	Earlier this year, I asked Derek Higgs to look into the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors and have welcomed his proposals on how to widen the pool from which non-executive directors are drawn, which could bring more women into the boardroom.
	Following his findings I then asked Laura Tyson from the London Business School to look specifically at how we might encourage greater diversity of directors on boards. Her recommendations include more rigorous and transparent selection processes; training for board members and measurement of board diversity.
	We recognise that we must work in partnership with business to achieve change. That is why I am meeting with some of the Chairs and Chief Executives of the FTSE 100 to encourage greater diversity on their boards and to ask them to consider what other steps they might take.
	In April this year the Government published A Strategy for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology to improve the position of women in SET in employment, education and policy-making in the United Kingdom. The Strategy is our response to the "SET FAIR report" from Baroness Greenfield which was published in November 2002.
	Our approach builds on mainstream policies with a series of action points in employment, education, and science and it draws support from recent measures to secure gender equality. It is aimed at academia, industry and public service equally. It sets out new initiatives which we believe will contribute significantly to improving the participation of women in SET. (http://www2.set4women.gov.uk/set4women/research/the greenfield response.htm)
	We want women to achieve their full potential whatever career they choose and we are committed to encouraging more women into politics, local government and public appointments. Within the Civil Service women comprise just over 26 per cent. at the senior civil servant level.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Communication Technologies (Disabled Access)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the Communications Act 2003 on access by disabled people to modern communication technologies.

Stephen Timms: The Communications Act only received Royal Assent on 17 July 2003. It is too early to assess the impact. The Communications Act contains specific measures to improve access to modern communications technologies for disabled users. The Universal Service Order made under the Communications Act sets out specific obligations on access to communications services for disabled users. Ofcom has responsibility to ensure compliance with these obligations. Section 10 of the Communications Act creates a new duty on Ofcom to encourage the availability of easily usable apparatus for all consumers, including disabled users, and sections 303 to 308 deal with the provision of television services for the deaf or visually impaired. Ofcom will report on the progress it has made in these areas as part of its annual report.

Industrial Action

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to limit the (a) number and (b) impact of unofficial strikes in the United Kingdom.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government encourage parties to resolve their industrial disputes through negotiation, and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service stands ready to assist where the parties request their involvement. While the number of stoppages in the last year—official and unofficial combined—is a record low, the Government, where necessary, make contingency plans to ensure key services are delivered.

Industrial Action

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the unofficial strike action among Royal Mail staff in the south of England.

Stephen Timms: No one will benefit from industrial action by postal workers in London. It will disrupt services to consumers and businesses that rely on Royal Mail's services.
	Resolution of disputes is a matter for the management of Royal Mail and the Communication Workers' Union.
	The Government have continued to encourage them to sit down together and reach a settlement. The Government welcome the talks that are taking place at AC AS to resolve the outstanding issues.

Market Research

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list each item of market and opinion research commissioned since May 1997 by (a) her Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which her Department is responsible; what the purpose of each item was; and whether the results were published.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department does not centrally collect the information sought at the required level of detail and to provide it would entail disproportionate cost.
	Statistical surveys to businesses and local authorities conducted by the Department and its agencies are monitored centrally to facilitate control of compliance costs to business and departmental expenditure on survey activity. It is not possible, however, to determine with any degree of accuracy which surveys fall into the categories of market and opinion research, or which contain an element of these. The answer would incur disproportionate cost because of the need to ask all Directorates in DTI, plus agencies and associated non-departmental public bodies, to attempt to provide details of each survey and piece of research commissioned since 1997.

Fireworks

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's estimate is of the number of Chinese bomb fireworks imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last four years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is not available because the system of classification used to record trade does not separately identify Chinese bomb fireworks.

Small Businesses (Start-ups)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the start-up rate for small businesses in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire, (c) Hull, (d) Humberside and (e) the UK was in each year since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: The numbers of businesses that registered and de-registered for VAT in each calendar year since 1997, and the number of businesses that were registered at the start of each of these years (stocks), in the United Kingdom, are available at: www.sbs.gov.uk/statistics/vatstats.php
	The latest year for which VAT registration data are available is 2002. Data are not available for parliamentary constituencies.
	
		VAT registrations, all sizes of business, 1997–2002 -- Number
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 770 810 790 800 725 870 
			 City of Kingston-upon-Hull 445 400 390 430 415 455 
			 Former county of The Humber 1,865 1,855 1,820 1,870 1,780 1,980 
			 United Kingdom 187,690 187,515 181,370 184,035 174,620 175,800

Small Businesses (Start-ups)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses in Pendle (a) registered and (b) de-registered for VAT in each year since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: The latest year for which VAT registration and de-registration data are available is 2002.
	The numbers of businesses that registered and de-registered for VAT in Pendle, Lancashire county, the North West Government Office Region (GOR) and the United Kingdom in the calendar years 1997–2002 are as follows:
	
		VAT registrations, all sizes of business, 1997 to 2002 -- Number
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Pendle 175 185 195 220 215 205 
			 Lancashire 2,940 2,995 2,925 2,945 2,895 2,875 
			 North West GOR 18,460 18,720 17,830 18,285 17,445 17,595 
			 United Kingdom 187,690 187,515 181,370 184,035 174,620 175,800 
		
	
	
		VAT de-registrations, all sizes of business, 1997 to 2002 -- Number
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Pendle 200 190 180 185 205 175 
			 Lancashire 2,720 2,615 2,690 2,630 3,035 2,895 
			 North West GOR 16,230 16,270 16,290 16,735 16,550 17,750 
			 United Kingdom 151,900 153,450 160,410 165,475 167,185 176,040 
		
	
	
		VAT registrations 1997–2002, rate per 10,000 resident adults(9)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Pendle 26 27 29 32 31 29 
			 Lancashire 33 33 33 33 32 32 
			 North West GOR 35 35 34 34 33 33 
			 United Kingdom 41 41 39 39 37 37 
		
	
	
		VAT de-registrations 1997 to 2002, rate per 10,000 resident adults(9)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Pendle 30 28 27 27 30 25 
			 Lancashire 30 29 30 29 34 32 
			 North West GOR 30 31 31 31 31 33 
			 United Kingdom 33 33 35 35 35 37 
		
	
	(9) Mid-year resident adults (aged 16 and over)
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Powerboats (Lake Windermere)

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make available alternative facilities for powerboat users following the Lake District National Parks Authority decision to introduce a 10 mph speed limit on Lake Windermere.

Richard Caborn: During the inquiry into the implementation of the Byelaws at Lake Windermere, Sport England along with the British Water Ski Federation considered the issue of the displacement of motorised watersports from the Lake. Sport England and the British Water Ski Federation continue to work together with those affected by the Byelaws to negotiate access to suitable areas of water for the continuation of these sports.
	The Government would not seek to impose specific alternative venues on those affected by the Navigation Byelaws on Lake Windermere. We believe it is for individuals to find convenient sites that will enable them to pursue water skiing and the other motorised water sports that will be affected by the Byelaws.

Correspondence

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will reply to the letter of 11 April from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Minister's reference 0301088).

Tessa Jowell: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 10 November 2003. I apologise for the delay in replying.

Investigatory Powers

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what statutory investigatory powers the Department has; which ones will be superseded by use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; and what plans she has for removing these legacy powers.

Richard Caborn: Under section 10(8) of the Football Spectators Act 1989 it is a condition of every 'Licence to Admit Spectators' that the Football Licensing Authority (FLA) be entitled (a) to enter at any reasonable time any premises at which a designated match is being played or is to be played (b) make such inspection of the ground and such inquiries relating to them as necessary and (c) to examine any records relating to the operation of the national football membership scheme on the premises, and take copies of such records. Under section 13 (6) of the Act, any inspector appointed by the Licensing Authority may (a) enter at any reasonable time any premises at which a designated football matches are played (b) make an inspection of the premises and such inquiries relating to the ground as necessary and (c) to examine the safety certificate and any records kept under the Sports Ground Safety Act 1975, or part of that Act, and take copies of such records.
	Section 43 of the Gaming Act 1968 gives the Inspectors of the Gaming Board of Great Britain the rights to entry to licensed premises and other related rights. In relation to Society Lotteries, Section 12 of Schedule 1A (b) (c) and (d) allows the Gaming Board to inspect and take copies of documents and computer records, information kept "otherwise than in writing" and any aspect of the management of these lotteries. This also applies to powers to deal with the registration of lottery managers under Schedule 2a of the Act.
	None of these existing powers will be superseded by use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and consequently there are no plans to amend or repeal any of these powers.

Museums (London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the museums in London to which her Department contributes, that charge for entry; and in each case what level of the entry charge is for adults.

Estelle Morris: The independent Design Museum, which receives a contribution from my Department towards educational programmes, charges £6.00 for adult admission. The Wellington Museum at Apsley House, to which grant-in-aid is contributed currently through the Victoria & Albert Museum, charges £4.50 for adult admission. In addition, the Cabinet War Rooms and HMS Belfast, which are entirely self-supporting branches of the Imperial War Museum, charge adults admission at £6.00 and £7.00 respectively. In all cases, concessionary rates and reduced rates for adult groups are available.

Voluntary Youth Football Teams

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether all those assisting with voluntary youth football teams require Criminal Record Bureau checks; and what representations she has received on this issue.

Richard Caborn: All those who assist with voluntary youth football teams and have unsupervised access to children are checked and screened against the Criminal Records Bureau in the interest of child protection.
	As part of one of the most comprehensive child protection processes in sport, 53,000 people, so far, have completed the Football Association's course in Child Protection and Best Practice. I am not aware of any representations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on this issue.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces (Wales)

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marine, (c) Army and (d) RAF personnel are stationed in Wales, broken down by location; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The number of UK Regular Forces Personnel located in Wales, by local authority area as at 1 July 2002 were as follows.
	
		
			  Total Naval service Army RAF 
		
		
			 Wales 2,110 20 920 1,160 
			 Isle of Anglesey 370 10 20 340 
			 Bridgend (11)— 0 (11)— 0 
			 Cardiff 80 0 70 (11)— 
			 Carmarthenshire (11)— 0 (11)— (11)— 
			 Conwy (11)— (11)— 0 0 
			 Denbighshire (11)— 0 (11)— 0 
			 Flintshire 180 0 (9) 180 
			 Monmouthshire 10 0 10 0 
			 Newport 20 0 20 0 
			 Pembrokeshire 540 0 520 20 
			 Powys 230 0 230 0 
			 Swansea 30 0 20 (11)— 
			 Torfaen (11)— 0 (11)— 0 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 610 10 0 600 
			 Wrexham 30 (9) 20 (11)— 
		
	
	(10) Figure is under 5
	Note
	Naval Service includes both Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel.

Armed Forces Strength

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the percentage shortfall of personnel is in each service of the armed forces.

Adam Ingram: The percentage deficit of Full Time Trained personnel against the Trained Requirement for each Service at 1 September 2003 are as follows:
	
		
			 Service Deficit (percentage) 
		
		
			 All services 3.0 
			 Naval services 2.8 
			 Army 3.6 
			 Royal Air Force 1.9 
		
	
	These figures include trained United Kingdom Regular Forces, Full Time Reserve Service personnel and trained Gurkhas. They exclude trained personnel in the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service, full and part time), Gibraltar Permanent Cadre and mobilised reservists.

Armed Forces Strength

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vacancies there are for each of the armed forces; and how many there were on the corresponding date for each of the last six years for which figures are available.

Adam Ingram: The information is in the table:
	
		Full Time Trained Strengths and Requirements
		
			   As at 1 April 1 September 
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 
		
		
			 All services
			 Total Trained Requirement 202,230 199,240 198,160 198,460 196,150 195,130 195,020 
			 Total Trained Strength 194,040 191,130 190,420 189,020 187,110 188,620 189,170 
			 Surplus/Deficit -8,190 -8,100 -7,740 -9,440 -9,030 -6,510 -5,840 
			 Naval Service
			 Total Trained Requirement 41,940 40,940 39,860 39,900 39,180 38,510 38,580 
			 Total Trained Strength 40,480 39,320 38,880 38,540 37,490 37,600 37,490 
			 Surplus/Deficit -1,460 -1,620 -990 -1,360 -1,690 -910 -1,090 
			 Army
			 Total Trained Requirement 105,770 105,270 106,400 106,970 106,970 106,980 106,730 
			 Total Trained Strength 100,880 99,900 100,330 100,380 100,420 102,120 102,940 
			 Surplus/Deficit -4,890 -5,370 -6,060 -6,600 -6,560 -4,850 -3,790 
			 Royal Air Force
			 Total Trained Requirement 54,530 53,020 51,900 51,590 49,990 49,640 49,710 
			 Total Trained Strength 52,680 51,910 51,210 50,110 49,200 48,900 48,750 
			 Surplus/Deficit -1,850 -1,120 -690 -1,490 -790 -750 -960 
		
	
	Note:
	Due to founding the totals may not always equal the sum of the parts.
	Source
	DASA (Tri-Service)
	These figures include trained United Kingdom Regular Forces, Full Time Reserve Service personnel and trained Gurkhas. They exclude trained personnel in the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service, full and part time), Gibraltar Permanent Cadre and mobilised reservists.

Civil Contingency Reaction Forces

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists have signed up for the Civil Contingency Reaction Forces; what percentage of the (a) operational requirement and (b) Government target this represents; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: To date, some 5,000 volunteers have signed up to serve in a Civil Contingency Reaction Force (CCRF). This figure represents around 70 per cent. of the Government's target. CCRFs remain on target to achieve operational capability by the end of this year.

Cluster Munitions

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of cluster munitions delivered by British forces during the conflict in Iraq were manufactured by Israeli Military Industries.

Adam Ingram: Two types of cluster munitions were used by British Forces during the Iraq conflict; RBL 755 cluster bomb and Shell 155mm Extended Range Bomblet Shell (ERBS). Only ERBS is manufactured by Israel Manufacturing Industries. Final details of ERBS usage during the Iraq conflict are not yet available.

Fylingdales

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to order a full environmental impact study prior to the Fylingdales base accepting United States missile defence technology; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of the base at Fylingdales on the environment of the local area; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: It is already the Ministry of Defence policy to carry out environmental impact assessments of all new projects and training activities. To this end, the MOD commissioned some time ago from independent consultants an Environmental and Land Use Report on the planned upgrade of the RAF Fylingdales radar for missile defence purposes. This report was passed to the local planning authorities in June 2003 and can be accessed on the MOD website. It confirms our view that nothing in the package of work involves an environmental impact or change of use, and that radar emissions are well within health guidelines. Nevertheless, in order to reassure the public, monitoring of the radar emissions will continue and the data made available publicly. Separately, an epidemiological study is being undertaken by the local NHS Primary Care Trust to determine if there is any evidence of increased rates of disease in the area which might warrant further investigation.

Procurement Budget (Wales)

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure was on procurement by each of the services in the last year for which figures are available; and how much of the procurement budget for each was spent in Wales.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Under-Secretary of State on 17 December 2002, Official Report, column 715W, to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson). The latest figures for spend on procurement in terms of Service or environment remain those for 1998–99, and were published by the Defence Analytical Services Agency in the United Kingdom "Defence Statistics" for 2000 available in the Library of the House.
	The Ministry of Defence systems changed following the introduction of Smart Acquisition and the move from cash accounting to resource accounting and budgeting. Consideration moved from recording and analysing inputs to the armed forces to providing capability.
	The latest figures regarding expenditure by the Defence Procurement Agency, broken down by capability, are expected to be published later this month and copies will be placed in the Library of the House. The figures are not broken down into spend in regional areas.

Territorial Army

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total strength is of the Territorial Army; how many members of the Territorial Army (a) collected their bounty and (b) voluntarily left the service in each month since April; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The total strength of the Territorial Army as at September 2003 is 36,900. This includes 4,160 mobilised reservists. Information on those who have voluntarily left since April 2003 is shown in the table:
	
		
			  Voluntarily left the TA 
		
		
			 April 100 
			 May 90 
			 June 120 
			 July 80 
			 August 80 
			 September 80 
		
	
	Note:
	Data have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Information on the number of TA personnel who have collected their bounty is not yet available. I will write to the hon. Member once the data has been collated and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Services

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of patients have been treated within the four-hour accident and emergency waiting time target in each of the past 12 months (a) in England and (b) broken down by strategic health authority.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the total time patients spend in accident and emergency departments from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge is collected each quarter from national health service trusts and is routinely published on the Department's website at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/ Copies of the information for England and for each NHS trust and strategic health authority are available in the Library.

Age-related Macular Degeneration

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to implement National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 3 November 2003
	Implementation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance has already begun. Patients are already receiving photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment on the national health service and we expect the implementation of the NICE guidance to have been fully implemented by the middle of 2004. We will be working with the NHS to facilitate the implementation to give patients increased access to PDT during this time.
	It was the Department's assessment, informed by advice from NICE, that the NHS would be unable to implement the guidance in full within the usual three-month period. We have previously varied the direction on five occasions when it was required to implement effectively the guidance to provide the service to patients.
	The extension was given because of concerns about the lack of capacity, for example, in reading centres, to implement the recommendations. Within the nine months allowed for full implementation, commissioners are expected to expand the service in a planned way to ensure there is sufficient capacity which is appropriately located to meet patient need, a fully trained workforce and access to expert diagnostic services. This will include the creation of new, and the expansion of existing, PDT centres and expert reading centres.
	The guidance issued to primary care trusts (PCTs) on PDT asks that PCTs should make funds available within nine months. We expect implementation to have been fully achieved within this timeframe, with all eligible patients having access to available treatment. PCTs may complete implementation earlier should their service planning enable them to do so.

Ambulance Services

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on consultancy fees by Mersey Regional Ambulance NHS Trust in each of the past five years; if he will list each consultant employed by the Trust; and on what matters they were requested to advise.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 11 November 2003
	The financial returns submitted by Mersey Regional Ambulance National Health Service Trust for the years 1998–99 to 2002–03 indicated that there was no expenditure on external contract staffing and consultancy.

Ambulance Services

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been claimed in expenses by the Chief Executive of Mersey Regional Ambulance Trust since his appointment; and what his salary was in the past two years, including bonuses, where payable.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 11 November 2003
	The current salary for Chief Executive of Mersey Regional Ambulance Service, Ms Janet Davies, is £88,060. The expenses claimed for the period November 2001 to October 2003 was £69.50.

Ambulance Services

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on travel by directors of the Mersey Regional Ambulance Trust in each of the past five years.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 11 November 2003
	Information on expenditure on travel by directors of the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust in each of the past five years, is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year Amount 
		
		
			 2003–04 2,479.00 
			 2002–03 3,793.00 
			 2001–02 6,433.00 
			 2000–01 4,050.00 
			 1999–2000 4,309.00

Ambulances

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the recent sector report from the Commission for Health Improvement; and what the CHI found in ambulance trusts.

Rosie Winterton: The Department welcomed the report by the Commission for Health Improvement, which brought together information from the previously published clinical governance reviews of ambulance trusts.
	The report recognised the value both patients and the general public place in the ambulance service, together with how services are meeting the challenge of dealing with increased emergency calls.

Ambulances

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received from (a) patient and consumer organisations and (b) professional and trade asscociations in relation to the Ambulance Service.

Rosie Winterton: The Department receives regular representations from patient and consumer organisations together with professional and trade associations in relation to the Ambulance Service.

Asbestos

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people contracted (a) mesothelioma and (b) other asbestos-related diseases in the last five years for which figures are available; where this information is publicly available; and from what year his Department's records began.

Des Browne: I have been asked to reply.
	No source of information provides a complete count of the number of people contracting mesothelioma but one indication is the number of people who have died as a result of contracting mesothelioma.
	
		Mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain 1997–01
		
			  Mesothelioma deaths 
		
		
			 1997 1,367 
			 1998 1,541 
			 1999 1,615 
			 2000 (11)1,631 
			 2001 (11)1,848 
		
	
	(11) Provisional
	Source
	Mesothelioma register.
	The annual number of mesothelioma deaths continues to increase. Because there is typically a long period between asbestos exposure and the onset of disease, many of the deaths occurring now are a result of exposures during the 1970s and earlier decades when work with asbestos was less tightly controlled.
	The HSE mesothelioma register began keeping records of mesothelioma deaths in 1967.
	No source of information provides a complete count of the number of people contracting asbestosis or diffuse pleural thickening. However, one indicator used is the annual number of awards of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme.
	
		New Cases of asbestosis and diffuse pleural thickening in Great Britain 1998–02
		
			  Asbestosis (pneumoconiosis caused by asbestos) Diffuse pleural thickening 
		
		
			 1998 316 227 
			 1999 407 242 
			 2000 447 273 
			 2001 461 291 
			 2002 563 379 
		
	
	Source
	Department of Work and Pensions Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme.
	Data are available from 1948 from the Industrial Disablement Scheme (pneumoconiosis caused by asbestos) and from 1985 for diffuse pleural thickening.
	Statistics on the annual number of asbestos related lung cancer cases are not available. Deaths from asbestos related lung cancer cannot be individually distinguished from lung cancers due to other causes such as smoking. However, it is estimated that there were between approximately 1,750 and 3,500 deaths in 2001.
	Asbestos related disease statistics are published on the statistics pages of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Website.

Care Homes

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with representatives of the Leonard Cheshire Organisation regarding capital costs associated with improving their properties to meet national care standards.

Stephen Ladyman: I am meeting with representatives from Leonard Cheshire on the 20 November and they will be able to raise this issue on that occasion.

Cervical Cancer

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in women (a) over the age of 60 and (b) under the age of 30 in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Vincent Cable, dated 12 November 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what proportion of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in women (a) over the age of 60 and (b) under the age of 30 in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002; and if he will make a statement. (136879)
	The figures requested are given in the table.
	
		Deaths from cervical cancer(12), women, England and Wales, 2001 and 2002(13)
		
			  2001 2002 
			 Age group Numberof deaths Percentage of total deaths Numberof deaths Percentage of total deaths 
		
		
			 Under 30 22 2 15 1 
			 30–59 407 39 391 39 
			 60 and over 610 59 595 59 
			 All ages 1,039 100 1,001 100 
		
	
	(12) Selected using code C53 from the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision.
	(13) Figures are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Commission for Patient andPublic Involvement in Health

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the budget of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05 is allocated to the running costs of its nine regional offices.

Rosie Winterton: The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) has an annual allocation of £34.5 million. This financial year, 2003–04, the Department has made additional funding available for staff training, taking the total up to £35.4 million. It is for the CPPIH to determine how best to meet its business needs within this budget.
	The Department's role in the CPPIH's finances is to monitor for propriety, regularity and value for money through the annual report and end of year accounts.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish an order under section 60 of the Health Act 1999 to amend the Dentists Act 1984 to introduce Clinical Dental Technicians and other Professions Complementary to Dentistry; what consultation period will be specified for the order; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 11 November 2003
	I expect to publish the Order in the spring. Consultation on the draft Order will run for three months, as required by the Health Act, 1999.

Dentistry

Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of (a) the availability of and (b) access to national health dental services in Copeland and West Cumbria.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 10 November 2003
	At the end of June, in the West Cumbria primary care trust area, there were 43 dentists who provided national health service dentistry in the general dental service (GDS). In addition, 70,000 patients were registered with a GDS dentist. This represents 54 per cent. of its resident population and 51 per cent. of adults and 67 per cent. of children.
	Registrations cover patients seen within the last 15 months.
	A dental access centre in Egremont, West Cumbria also provides routine and emergency NHS treatment to patients.

Departmental Energy Use

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) electricity and (b) other energy his Department has used in each year since 1997 (i) in total and (ii) per square metre; what the projected use is for each of the following years for which forecasts are made; what plans he has to reduce usage; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the response given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 3 November 2003, Official Report, column 404W, setting out detail of energy used from 1997.
	The Department does not forecast usage of energy for its administrative estate. However, it has adopted the target published in the "Sustainable Development in Government First Annual Report" to reduce greenhouse emissions to air by one per cent. per annum.

Diabetes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each of the last 10 years have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not available in the form requested. However, based on information from the Health Survey for England, the following figures may be estimated.
	
		
			  Number of people with diabetes in the UK 
		
		
			 1994 1,378,707 
			 1998 1,684,111 
		
	
	Data are not routinely collected on the number of people being diagnosed with diabetes. Local health care providers will, however, increasingly gather information as they build registers of people with diabetes as they begin to implement the national service framework.

Diagnostic and Treatment Centres

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the diagnostic services provided by the diagnostic and treatment centres announced so far.

John Hutton: Treatment centres will provide safe, fast, pre-booked surgery and diagnostic tests for patients, by separating scheduled treatment from emergency pressures, in some of the specialties with the highest waiting times. These will cover mixed surgical procedures, and in particular, patients waiting for treatment in orthopaedics and ophthalmology.
	The diagnostic services provided in both the national health service and independent sector treatment centres will include endoscopy, radiology and pathology.

Diet and Nutrition

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the most recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey was published; what percentage of women aged 35 to 49 it found had a total daily folic acid intake of less than 400 microgrammes; and what his Department's recommended total daily folic acid intake is from (a) the normal diet and (b) supplemental sources for women in that age group.

Melanie Johnson: The latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey, published in July 2003, showed that 84 per cent. of women aged 35 to 49 had folate intakes below 400 micrograms per day. The recommended intake for folate from diet for these women is 200 micrograms per day. The Department recommends that all women planning a pregnancy should take 400 micrograms per day of folic acid (a synthetic form of folate) as a daily supplement to reduce the risk of neural tube defects.

EU Clinical Trial Directive

Mr. Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation his Department has made of the long term effects of the EU Clinical Trial Directive on clinical research in the UK.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 20 October 2003
	The European Directive on the conduct of clinical trials was adopted in February 2001. The main aim of the Directive is to simplify and harmonise procedures across the Community whilst ensuring the protection of trial subjects and providing a safe environment for the development of new medicines. Member states are required to implement the Directive fully by 1 May 2004.
	The scope of the Directive is wide and the UK Regulations will apply to all clinical trials on medicinal products for human use conducted in the UK, including academic and healthy volunteer studies, with the exception of non-interventional trials.
	The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, my noble Friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, invited the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Academy of Medical Sciences to co-ordinate a report on the impact of the Directive on academic studies. The impact assessment, prepared by the MRC with the active support of others including Cancer Research UK, the National Co-ordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment and a number of academic experts formed the basis for a response to the Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) consultation on the draft regulations to implement the Directive into UK law earlier this year.
	In responding to concerns, and to provide an environment in which patients are protected but high quality research is not inhibited, the Government have taken steps to attempt to influence the Commission in its consideration of a Commission Directive on Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and also in reviewing guidance that the Commission published earlier this year.
	In another initiative, the Department and the MRC have announced a joint project to work with experts to find practical solutions to the issues identified in the impact assessment. Details of the project can be found on www.ncchta.org/eudirective/index.asp.
	With our careful exploration of the impact on publicly-funded research and organisations that support it and delays in the Commission finalising the GCP Directive and other guidance, the United Kingdom's implementing regulations are not expected to be made until early in 2004.
	Further information on the scope of the Directive and the proposed UK implementing regulations is available on the MHRA's website www.mhra.gov.uk on the Clinical Trials Directive pages.

Food Supplements

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will compensate manufacturers and retailers for the cost of destroying products which will become illegal in July 2005 under the provisions of the Food Supplements (England) Regulations on the basis that they contain ingredients missing from the list of permitted nutrients and nutrient sources.

Melanie Johnson: The Government have no such plans.

Genito-urinary Medicine

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have waited (a) up to three months, (b) up to six months and (c) up to nine months for an appointment at a genito-urinary management clinic in (i) Chesham and Amersham and (ii) Buckinghamshire in each year since 1996.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 5 November 2003
	No patients have been reported by provider trusts for the Chesham, Amersham and Buckinghamshire area as waiting up to three months, six months or nine months for an outpatient appointment for genito-urinary medicine.

Health Care (Gloucestershire)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with (a) Gloucestershire primary care trusts and (b) Gloucestershire hospital trusts about their budgetary shortfalls for 2003–04; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the proposed cuts in services (a) at Tewkesbury Hospital and (b) in Gloucestershire.

Rosie Winterton: holding answser 23 October 2003
	In line with the Government's policy of shifting the balance of power, responsibility for performance and financial management of local national health servie organisations now rests with strategic health authorities (SHAs).
	The Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA is working closely with all organisations within the local health community to ensure that robust plans are in place to achieve year end financial balance and achievement of NHS plan targets. The SHA is having regular meetings with all three local primary care trusts (PCTs) and the hospital trust to monitor progress.
	The PCTs and the hospital trust are reviewing service provision and are currently considering a range of measures, including the utilisation of community hospital beds.

Health Care (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what NHS revenue funding (a) in cash terms and (b) at current prices was provided for (i) York NHS Trust services and (ii) York Primary Care Trust for community and mental health services transferred to it from the NHS Trust, in each year since 1992.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		£
		
			  York Hospitals NationalHealth Service Trust Selby and York PrimaryCare Trust 
			  Net expenditure Net expenditure 
			 Year Cash terms Current prices Cash terms Current prices 
		
		
			 1992–93 30,756,432 39,493,094 — — 
			 1993–94 28,891,523 35,980,377 — — 
			 1994–95 26,341,022 32,195,441 — — 
			 1995–96 26,461,149 31,560,732 — — 
			 1996–97 14,143,552 16,374,779 — — 
			 1997–98 32,203,315 36,152,222 — — 
			 1998–99 35,164,130 38,427,803 — — 
			 1999–2000 34,538,617 37,060,192 — — 
			 2000–01 36,566,218 38,571,146 — — 
			 2001–02 24,336,434 25,030,016 12,392,798 12,745,989 
		
	
	Notes
	1. It is not possible to provide information on funding to NHS Trusts and PCTs for Community and Mental Health Services (including Learning Disabilities). Expenditure information by providers is included in financial returns, which are submitted on an annual basis. This expenditure information provides the closest to that required in the question.
	2. The figures contain expenditure on Learning Disability services which cannot be disaggregated from certain mental health services.
	3. In 1996–97, York Health Services NHS Trust submitted no information on Community Health Services and services commissioned through Royal Colleges. Therefore, information for 1996–97 is incomplete.
	4. Current prices have been calculated using the gross domestic product deflator at market prices.
	Sources
	1. York Health Services NHS Trust Financial returns 1992–2003.
	2. Selby and York Primary Care Trust Financial Returns 2001 to 2003 (Selby and York is the closest geographic match to "York PCT" in the question).

Health Visitors

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of health visitors at Grade G due to retire in the next (a) five and (b) 10 years; and what efforts his Department has made to maintain or improve numbers of health visitors.

John Hutton: Information on the number of health visitors at Grade G due to retire in the next five and 10 years is not available.
	The total number of qualified health visitors broken down by gender in age bands 50–54 and 55 or over are shown in the table.
	
		NHS health visitors, by gender in the specified age bands in England as at 30 September each year -- headcount
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Total health visitors 12,800 12,827 13,053 12,774 
			 Of which: 
			 All staff aged 50–54 2,355 2,361 2,271 2,163 
			 Male 21 32 29 20 
			 Female 2,334 2,329 2,242 2,143 
			  
			 All staff aged 55 or over 1,717 1,725 1,910 2,054 
			 Male 14 13 11 10 
			 Female 1,703 1,712 1,899 2,044 
		
	
	Note
	Figures consist of NHS health visitors employed by health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts in England.
	Source
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census
	The Government is implementing a range of measures to recruit and retain more healthcare professionals, including health visitors. These include improving pay and conditions, encouraging the National Health Service to become a better, more flexible and diverse employer, increasing training, investing in childcare and continuing professional development, attracting back returners and running national recruitment campaigns.

Heath Care (Bath/North East Somerset)

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on primary health services in Bath and North East Somerset in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what that investment represents per head of population.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested. Bath and North East Somerset Primary Care Trust (PCT) did not come into existence until 2001–02. Therefore, figures are provided for the Somerset Health Authority (HA) area for 1996–97, and for the Bath and North East Somerset PCT area for 2002–03. These figures are not, therefore, comparable.
	Expenditure on primary health services is the total primary healthcare commissioned by the HA and by the PCT. Expenditure per head is normally expressed by weighted head of population, but this is not possible for 2002–03, because weighted population data are not available for PCT areas. Therefore, in this case, resident population figures have been used.
	
		Commission of primary health care: expenditure and expenditure per head
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1996–97  
			 Somerset HA area  
			 Expenditure 55,641,000 
			 Expenditure per head 121.65 
			   
			 2002–03  
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT area  
			 Expenditure 37,525,000 
			 Expenditure per head 222.22 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The PCT expenditure figures are not comparable as the areas are different between the two years provided.
	2. Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of HAs and PCTs.
	3. Expenditure is taken from audited HA accounts and PCT summarisation schedules, which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The expenditure is the total commissioning of primary health care by Somerset HA and by Bath and North East Somerset PCT. The majority of general dental services expenditure is not included in the HA or PCT summarisation forms and is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. An element of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority and not by HAs or PCTs.
	Sources:
	1. Somerset HA audited annual accounts 1996–97.
	2. Bath and North East Somerset PCT audited summarisation schedules 2002–03.
	3. HA weighted population figures for 1996–97.
	4. PCT resident population figures for 2002–03?2002–03 data remain provisional.

Heath Care (Bath/North East Somerset)

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much is being spent per person in Bath and North East Somerset on all local health services in 2003; and what was spent in 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Bath and North East Somerset Primary Care Trust (PCT) did not come into existence until 2001–02, so figures are provided for the Somerset Health Authority (HA) area for 1996–97 and for the Bath and North East Somerset PCT area for 2002–03.
	Expenditure is the total expenditure by the HA and the commissioner net operating costs of the PCT. Expenditure per head is normally expressed by weighted head of population, but this is not possible for 2002–03, because weighted population data are not available for PCT areas. In this case, resident population figures have been used.
	
		Total expenditure per head
		
			   £ 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1996–97 Somerset HA area 608.58 
			 2002–03 Bath and North East Somerset PCT area 821.14 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. In many HAs there are factors which distort the expenditure per head. These include: the HA acting in a lead capacity to commission healthcare or fund training on behalf of other health bodies; and asset revaluations in NHS trusts being funded through health authorities or primary care trusts. For these reasons, expenditure per head cannot be compared reliably between HAs.
	2. Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of HAs.
	3. Expenditure is taken from audited health HA accounts and PCT summarisation schedules, which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The expenditure is the total expenditure by the Somerset HA for 1997 and the net operating commissioner costs of the Bath and North East Somerset PCT for 2002–03. The majority of general dental services expenditure is not included in HA accounts or PCT summarisation schedules and is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. An element of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority and not by HAs or PCTs.
	Sources:
	1. Somerset HA audited annual accounts 1996–97.
	2. Bath and North East Somerset PCT audited summarisation schedules 2002–03.
	3. HA weighted population figures for 1996–97.
	4. PCT resident population figures for 2002–03—2002–03 data remain provisional.

Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Hospitals Trust

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital managers there are in the Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Hospitals Trust.

Melanie Johnson: There are 198 managers employed by Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust as at 30 September 2002. This figure is a headcount.
	This figure includes 37 managers in posts that require them to be a qualified nurse, midwife or health visitor, a qualified therapist or a qualified scientist.
	Source
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

IVF Treatment

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on IVF treatment in the UK.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 6 November 2003
	In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. It is provided by the national health service and by the private sector. In England, access to NHS infertility treatment varies according to location. Therefore, the Government has asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to prepare a guideline on the assessment and treatment of people with fertility problems. The guideline is due for publication in February 2004.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the service improvements set out in the document, "Sign of the Times", will be implemented in the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: "Sign of the Times" was a consultation document on improving mental health services for deaf people. The consultation continued until April of this year and officials are currently considering how best to represent the many high quality and detailed responses received.

MRI Scanners

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospitals in London using MRI scanners; and when each scanner was installed.

John Hutton: holding answer 10 November 2003
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Hospitals in London using MRI scanners
		
			 Trust name Hospital Strategic health authority Installed (year) 
		
		
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHST Barnet General Hospital North Central London 1999 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHST (Enfield Alliance MRI) Chase Farm Hospital North Central London 1998 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHST Great Ormond Street Hospital North Central London 2000 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHST Great Ormond Street Hospital North Central London 1996 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital NHST North Middlesex Hospital North Central London 1997 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHST Royal Free Hospital North Central London 2000 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHST Royal Free Hospital North Central London 1996 
			 University College London Hospitals NHST Middlesex Hospital North Central London 1997 
			 University College London Hospitals NHST The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery North Central London 2000 
			 University College London Hospitals NHST Queen Square Imaging Centre North Central London 1993 
			 University College London Hospitals NHST Middlesex Hospital North Central London 1997 
			 Whittington Hospital NHST Whittington Hospital North Central London 1995 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHST (Havering Alliance MRI) Oldchurch Hospital North East London 1998 
			 Barts and The London NHST Royal London Hospital North East London 2003 
			 Barts and The London NHST St Bartholomew's Hospital North East London 1993 
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital NHST Whipps Cross Hospital North East London 1994 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHST Chelsea and Westminster Hospital North West London 2002 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHST Charing Cross Hospital North West London 1996 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHST Hammersmith Hospital North West London 2002 
			 North West London Hospitals NHST Central Middlesex Hospital North West London 1999 
			 North West London Hospitals NHST Northwick Park Hospital North West London 1996 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHST Royal Brompton Hospital North West London 1997 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHST Royal Brompton Hospital North West London 2000 
			 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHST Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital North West London 1998 
			 St Mary's Hospital NHST St Mary's Hospital North West London 1998 
			 St Mary's Hospital NHST St Mary's Hospital North West London 1996 
			 Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHST Guys Hospital South East London 2001 
			 Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHST St Thomas' Hospital South East London 1993 
			 Kings College Hospital NHST King's College Hospital South East London 2001 
			 Kings College Hospital NHST King's College Hospital (Neuro) South East London 1996 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHST Queen Elizabeth Hospital South East London 2001 
			 Queen Mary's Sidcup NHST (Sidcup MRI) Queen Mary's Hospital South East London 1998 
			 South London and Maudsley NHST The Maudsley Hospital South East London 1999 
			 Epsom and St Helier NHST St Helier Hospital South West London 1994 
			 Epsom and St Helier NHST (Epsom Alliance MRI) Epsom General Hospital South West London 1999 
			 Mayday Healthcare NHST Mayday Hospital South West London 1999 
			 St Georges Healthcare NHST St Georges Hospital South West London 1993 
			 St Georges Healthcare NHST (Atkinson Morley MRI) Atkinson Morley Hospital South West London 1996 
			 The Royal Marsden NHST Royal Marsden Hospital—Sutton South West London 2003 
			 The Royal Marsden NHST Royal Marsden Hospital—Fulham South West London 2001 
			 The Royal Marsden NHST Royal Marsden Hospital—Sutton South West London 1995 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHST (West Middlesex MRI) West Middlesex Hospital South West London 2000

National Tariff

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 16 October 2003 to the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), Official Report, columns 338–89W, if he will list the regional variations in (a) wages and (b) other costs of service delivery in the standard national tariff, broken down by region.

John Hutton: The national tariff is adjusted to give a local tariff for each provider. This is done using a market forces factor (MFF). The MFF takes account of unavoidable differences across the country in the costs of staff, land and buildings. Other running costs are assumed not to vary. The MFF is not a regional adjustment, but is specific to each provider. A table listing the MFF adjustment for each provider has been placed in the Library.

NHS Finance

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the funding per head of population in each English primary care trust area for financial year 2003–04.

John Hutton: Primary care trusts revenue allocations per weighted and unweighted head of population in 2003–04 have been placed in the Library.

NHS Staff (Attacks)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to reduce the number of violent attacks on NHS staff.

John Hutton: The Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) was launched in April 2003 with a remit encompassing policy and operational responsibility for the management of security in the national health service.
	Specific measures on tackling violence were announced in April by my right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn), as follows:
	a national and consistent incident reporting system for recording physical assaults, and a consistent local reporting system for non-physical incidents, using clear and legally based definitions with the ability to track cases from start to conclusion, allowing for monitoring and intervention where necessary, to ensure the best possible outcome for the person assaulted;
	from 2004–05, the CFSMS will begin training nominated staff from health bodies for the new role of local security management specialist (LSMS). The LSMS staff will work with and assist the police in investigating cases of assault in order to increase the number of successful prosecutions. However, as an interim measure to cover the period until the LSMS staff are in place, the CFSMS will use its existing highly trained and professional operational service in this role; and
	a new legal protection unit to work with health bodies and provide them with advice on cost-effective methods of pursuing a wide range of sanctions against offenders, and also to work with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to increase the prosecution rate of individuals who assault staff and professionals working in the NHS.

Older People

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how his Department has audited the production of audits by local health care providers of their risk management procedures to reduce the risk of older people falling.

Stephen Ladyman: Data has not been collected centrally. This is a matter for local health and social care communities and part of their planning to ensure integrated falls services are in place by April 2005.

Ophthalmology Services

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what consultation he has had with (a) ophthalmologists in Buckinghamshire, (b) the Buckinghamshire Association for the Blind, (c) primary care trusts in Buckinghamshire and (d) the Buckinghamshire hospitals NHS Trust about his plans for a diagnostic and treatment centre for ophthalmology in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact on ophthalmology services at Stoke Mandeville hospital of his plans for a diagnostic and treatment centre for ophthalmology in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire;
	(3)  what arrangements he is proposing for managing (a) operative and (b) post-operative complications at the planned diagnostic and treatment centre for ophthalmology for Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire;
	(4)  what representations he has received from local doctors about the accuracy of the information on the demands for cataract surgery on which he has based his plans for a diagnostic and treatment centre for ophthalmology in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

John Hutton: holding answers 18 September 2003
	Local primary care trusts (PCTs) have met with ophthalmologists and they have been actively involved in refining the proposal for a treatment centre for cataract surgery in Buckinghamshire and will continue to be involved in further developing the plans. Buckinghamshire hospitals trust has also been involved and will continue to be. Links are also being developed with local groups including patient support groups and the PCTs will be looking to work with them as the treatment centre plans progress.
	Treatment centres in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire will provide more choice for patients and provide services closer to home. Existing local services are held in high regard and an important outcome for local hospitals will be the opportunity of developing further their specialist service and chronic disease management. Clinicians and managers at Buckinghamshire hospitals trusts are involved in these discussions.
	Discussions have taken place with Stoke Mandeville hospital to ensure that the viability and quality of the current service will not be adversely affected.
	The treatment centre will offer additional opportunities for care of patients by increasing capacity and bringing down wait times and are a service enhancement to the PCT population.
	Treatment centres will be expected to be able to deal with typical surgical problems to at least the same standard as national health service providers. Local trusts, PCTs and new providers will agree protocols for referring and transferring patients who require emergency or urgent care that cannot be provided by the treatment centres.
	In autumn 2002, the NHS undertook a national capacity planning process led by local NHS commissioners. This identified a range of capacity gaps that needed to be met for the NHS to meet the waiting time target set for 2005. Where the NHS was not able to demonstrate robust plans to meet this demand the residual activity was included in the independent sector treatment centre programme.
	Advice and guidance has been made available to local NHS sponsors who are responsible for running an appropriate consultation with the patients and staff. I have been assured by the Thames Valley Strategic health authority that the treatment centre offers the opportunity to reduce waiting lists for cataract surgery further, with all the benefits that cataract surgery brings to the quality of life for older people. It also creates capacity in the ophthalmology departments of local trusts to enable more complex eye surgery to be carried out.
	The details of the scheme, together with a wider review of ophthalmology services generally, will be worked out locally with clinicians and other stakeholders. The specific issues raised in these questions will be managed locally as the NHS makes these new units a success.
	Letters have been received at the SHA from ophthalmologists in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire outlining local concerns. These have been addressed in meetings with clinicians and managers.

Prescriptions

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the changes in workload for clerical staff, which may arise from the decision to reduce the maximum length of a prescription from three months to one month;
	(2)  what estimate he made of the costs that will arise from the decision to reduce the maximum length of a prescription from three months to one month.

Rosie Winterton: We have made no such estimates. It is for prescribers to determine the duration of prescriptions, based on their clinical assessment of patients and other relevant factors, including the minimisation of waste. We have not issued guidance on the duration of prescriptions. However, it is common practice for general practitioner prescriptions to be issued for one month or 28 days at a time.

Road Safety

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS of road traffic accidents was in 2002–03.

Rosie Winterton: Under the provisions of the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999, £105 million was recovered and paid to national health services hospitals in England and Wales and Scotland for treating those injured in road traffic accidents in 2002–03. This amount is not the full cost of treating road traffic casualties. However, as costs are recovered only where the injured person receives personal injury compensation, it includes only hospital treatment costs, and the tariff system under which the scheme operates reflects average costs rather than actual costs.
	Information on the total cost to the NHS of treating all road traffic accident victims is not held centrally.

Smoking

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effect of raising the minimum age for smoking to (a) 18 and (b) 21 years old, with particular reference to the development and health of young people.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 10 November 2003
	The Government is aware of the difficulties in enforcing the existing age limit for smoking. We are not convinced that raising the minimum age to 18 or 21 will resolve the problem of teenage smoking. The key is to improve enforcement of existing legislation. The Department continues to work closely with representatives of Trading Standards and the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services to achieve this.

STDs

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished consultant episodes for sexually transmitted diseases there were in each English region in each of the last six years.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 10 November 2003
	The number of finished consultant episodes for sexually transmitted diseases diagnosed in genitourinary medicine clinics in each of the English national health service regions (up to 2002) are shown in the table.
	Data for episodes diagnosed and treated in other settings, such as contraception services, are not held centrally. Nor does the data identify the grades of staff undertaking the diagnoses, therefore it will include diagnoses and treatment undertaken by other clinic staff, such as nurses, as well as consultants.
	
		
			  Male Female Total 
		
		
			 East Midlands
			 1997 14,679 20,174 34,853 
			 1998 14,833 19,811 34,644 
			 1999 14,269 17,916 32,185 
			 2000 15,745 19,142 34,887 
			 2001 16,667 20,437 37,104 
			 2002 17,147 22,084 39,231 
			 
			 Eastern
			 1997 16,795 22,490 39,285 
			 1998 18,295 24,299 42,594 
			 1999 19,956 26,273 46,229 
			 2000 21,079 27,312 48,391 
			 2001 22,726 29,865 52,591 
			 2002 24,702 32,694 57,396 
			 London
			 1997 74,846 86,839 161,685 
			 1998 78,538 94,155 172,693 
			 1999 82,072 98,626 180,698 
			 2000 86,360 101,676 188,036 
			 2001 93,059 108,868 201,927 
			 2002 97,891 112,582 210,473 
			 
			 North East
			 1997 7,869 8,966 16,835 
			 1998 7,924 8,892 16,816 
			 1999 8,592 9,839 18,431 
			 2000 9,138 10,715 19,853 
			 2001 8,652 10,295 18,947 
			 2002 9,005 10,560 19,565 
			 
			 North West
			 1997 20,958 23,987 44,945 
			 1998 23,142 25,159 48,301 
			 1999 25,717 28,111 53,828 
			 2000 28,123 30,144 58,267 
			 2001 30,273 33,075 63,348 
			 2002 32,022 34,636 66,658 
			 
			 South East
			 1997 30,385 38,332 68,717 
			 1998 32,955 39,586 72,541 
			 1999 35,020 42,090 77,110 
			 2000 39,097 45,628 84,725 
			 2001 40,748 46,976 87,724 
			 2002 44,366 50,040 94,406 
			 
			 South West
			 1997 16,429 19,030 35,459 
			 1998 17,568 20,585 38,153 
			 1999 18,741 21,562 40,303 
			 2000 20,888 23,971 44,859 
			 2001 22,214 26,066 48,280 
			 2002 24,240 27,220 51,460 
			 
			 West Midlands
			 1997 16,554 20,990 37,544 
			 1998 15,377 19,318 34,695 
			 1999 16,835 20,835 37,670 
			 2000 18,560 23,111 41,671 
			 2001 20,952 26,834 47,786 
			 2002 21,815 28,716 50,531 
			 
			  Yorkshire and Humber 
			 1997 18,401 24,168 42,569 
			 1998 19,452 25,061 44,513 
			 1999 19,440 25,101 44,541 
			 2000 20,252 25,802 46,054 
			 2001 22,004 28,259 50,263 
			 2002 23,688 30,010 53,698 
		
	
	Source:
	Health Protection Agency, KC60 returns

Termination Payments

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many termination payments have been made by NHS trusts to (a) chief executives and (b) senior managers since January 2000; and what the total amount paid was for each trust.

John Hutton: This information is not collected centrally as determination of such payments are a local matter.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Ticket Office (College Green)

Adrian Flook: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission when the ticket office on College Green will be dismantled.

Archy Kirkwood: The work will be carried out later this month.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Class Sizes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the Vale of York was for each of the previous three academic years.

David Miliband: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools(14): average class size(15),(16): Vale of York parliamentary constituency
		
			  Taught by one teacher 
			 Position at January each year Maintained primary Maintained secondary 
		
		
			 2001 24.4 21.2 
			 2002 23.6 20.8 
			 2003 24.1 20.8 
		
	
	(14) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(15) Classes as taught during one selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.
	(16) Classes taught by one teacher.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Euro K4

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the local authorities allocated money under the Euro K4 project.

Alan Johnson: Euro K4 is a project run by Worcestershire county council. No other local authorities receive funding from the project.

Graduate Tax

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the expected deficits or surpluses are over the first 20 years for the Government in relation to higher education spending under the present proposals for income-contingent loans, assuming a zero real rate of interest;
	(2)  whether his Department has commissioned outside institutions and individuals to model variants of a graduate tax;
	(3)  what discussions his Department has had with outside bodies regarding the hypothecation of revenues from a graduate tax for use solely in funding higher education;
	(4)  how many (a) variants of a time-limited graduate tax, (b) principal variants of a quantum-limited graduate tax and (c) variants of a graduate tax were modelled by his Department in connection with its plans to fund higher education;
	(5)  which securitisation and bond issuance schemes his Department has assessed to fund or bridge the cash flow gap in the first years of the main variants of a graduate tax;
	(6)  if he will publish the estimated cash flow profile over 20 years for Government receipts under his present proposals for income-contingent loans;
	(7)  what assessment he has made of alternative models of a graduate tax based on an increase in national insurance contributions payable by graduates and businesses during (a) all and (b) part of a graduate's working life;
	(8)  what mechanisms his Department has assessed to fund or bridge the cash flow gap in the first years of the main variants of graduate tax modelled by his Department;
	(9)  what the cash flow profiles over 20 years are of the principal variants of a graduate tax which his Department has assessed; and what the main assumptions underlying them are;
	(10)  what (a) the average monthly repayments, (b) total payment made by the student and (c) the shortfall/surplus at a zero real rate of interest under a graduate tax levied would be at (i) 1p, (ii) 2p and (iii) 3p in the pound of income above £15,000 for (A) 10 years, (B) 15 years, (C) 20 years, (D) 25 years and (E) 30 years after leaving university.

Alan Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 30 October 2003, Official Report, column 429, and also to the two letters to my hon. Friend from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, dated 11 April 2003 and 3 June 2003. Copies of both letters are in the House Library.

Higher Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has commissioned on Government expenditure on higher education in EU member states.

Alan Johnson: My Department has not directly commissioned any specific research in this area. My Department uses OECD's annual "Education at a Glance" publication as the best source of comparative information of this nature, and we contribute both financially and in time spent by our statisticians, to its production. It gives statistical information on Government expenditure on higher education in all the current EU member states and in four of the states due to accede in 2004: Poland, Hungary and the Czech and Slovak republics.
	In "Education at a Glance", each country's expenditure on higher education is reported as a percentage of total public expenditure and as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product. The publication also gives the relative proportions of public and private expenditure on higher education institutions, for both 2000 and 1995.

Higher Education

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional resources the Government have allocated to higher education establishments in each of the last five years in (a) the north west region and (b) St. Helens.

Alan Johnson: The table shows the resources for higher education provided via the Higher Education Funding Council for England in St. Helens and for the north west region in each of the last five years.
	
		£ million
		
			  North West St. Helens 
		
		
			 1999–2000 471.7 2.2 
			 2000–01 488. 1 2.4 
			 2001–02 505.8 2.5 
			 2002–03 539.0 2.6 
			 2003–04 576.3 2.5 
			 Total 2,580.9 12.1 
		
	
	As a result of the 2002 Spending Review publicly planned spending per FTE in higher education will rise by 7 per cent. in real terms between 2002–03 and 2005–06. Higher education in the north west will receive its share of this increase.

Higher Education White Paper

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in which category postcards from students at (a) Loughborough and (b) other universities to the Prime Minister were placed in the Government's response to the consultation on the Higher Education White Paper.

Alan Johnson: We have received postcards from students at various universities in a number of campaigns over the last year. However, we received no such postcard campaigns in response to the higher education White Paper, during the period for comment which ran until 30 April.

Higher Education White Paper

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in which category of response the submission by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme was placed in the responses to the consultation on the Higher Education White Paper.

Alan Johnson: The hon. Member's letters to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills were responded to separately and in full by my right hon. Friend. They were accordingly not included in the commentary of responses which was published on 28 July.

Independent Adjudicator (Higher Education)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the estimated annual case workload of the Independent Adjudicator for higher education is; and what annual resources have been allocated for this function.

Alan Johnson: We are informed by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) that its annual case workload is estimated initially to be around 300 cases a year. The Department is providing up to £1 million in total over the two financial years 2003–04 and 2004–05 to establish the OIA. Thereafter, the OIA is expected to be funded by institutions.

Knowledge Transfer Centres

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received on the Higher Education White Paper proposals for regional centres for knowledge transfer.

Alan Johnson: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has been seeking views on the knowledge transfer proposals in the Higher Education White Paper through its consultation on the future development of the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). This included the role of knowledge exchanges to spread good practice in interactions between higher education and business at regional level. The consultation exercise closed on 24 October and the HEIF 2 guidance is currently being reviewed in the light of the responses received.

Qualifications

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has conducted into the differential in the qualifications required for future jobs between (a) newly-created jobs and (b) replacement jobs; and what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in each category.

Ivan Lewis: Research conducted by the Department into the area in question consists of the Projections of Occupations and Qualifications 2000/2001 commissioned from the University of Warwick Institute for Employment Research and Cambridge Econometrics and covering estimates for the period 1999 to 2010. New projections have been commissioned by the Sector Skills Development Agency and will be published in early 2004.
	This research estimates that about two million additional jobs will be created over the period 1999 to 2010. However, there will be a net requirement for about 13.5 million job openings to cover these new jobs and to replace people retiring and dying and moving into and out of their jobs.
	The research did not cover the differential in the qualifications required for these two categories of jobs. However, the same research suggests that, between 1999 and 2010, the number of people employed with qualifications at levels 4 and 5 will increase from 7.10 million to 9.43 million, the number of people employed with level 3 qualifications will increase from 5.10 million to 5.38 million, the number of people employed with qualifications at level 2 will fall from 6.17million to 6.12 million and the number of people employed with qualifications at level 1 will increase from 5.78 million to 6.25 million.

School Pupil Statistics

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the breakdown by (a) gender and (b) ethnic groups as a percentage of (i) primary and (ii) secondary school pupils was in each local education authority as at 1 January.

David Miliband: The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Scientific Careers

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is being done to promote scientific careers to school students; and what involvement professional bodies have in such information and promotion schemes.

Alan Johnson: Our strategy for science, engineering and technology was set out in "Investing in Innovation" published in July 2002 in response to the recommendations made in Sir Gareth Roberts' report "SET for Success". Our response to Baroness Greenfield's report "SET Fair" outlines our strategy to tackle under-representation of women in science. Both of these included looking at the promotion of science careers. We are working closely with colleagues at the DTI and the Promoting SET for Women Unit to take forward the recommendations in those reports.
	We believe that a good way of promoting science, including careers, in schools is by introducing current scientific developments into the classroom. As well as making science both exciting and relevant this will give young people an understanding of the role of science in society. We are working with a range of bodies, including professional bodies, to achieve this. We have consulted on the programme of study for science at Key Stage 4, following a review by the QCA. The new programme of study will set out a core for science, suitable for all learners, to increase flexibility of qualifications at Key Stage 4. From September 2003, a new science GCSE, "Science in the 21st Century" will be piloted in 50 schools. It aims to provide a sound and stimulating science education that will engage all students with contemporary science issues; and to increase the number of young people studying science subjects post-16. Connexions Personal Advisers provide independent advice to students on all careers, including scientific careers.
	The Science and Engineering Ambassadors' scheme (SEAs) launched jointly by this Department and the DTI in January 2002, aims to show young people the links between what they learn at school and the world of work. Ambassadors work with young people across the key stages and give them an understanding of the opportunities that a science, engineering or technology based career can offer.

Specialist Status Colleges

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 27 October 2003, Official Report, column 80W, whether, with reference to specialist status colleges, a school's previous performance in value added terms is a factor in any bid for specialist status.

David Miliband: A school's previous performance in value added terms is taken into account by the Department's specialist school assessors.

Student Finance

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to increase financial support for undergraduate students of medicine.

Alan Johnson: Undergraduate medical students already receive more help overall than other higher education students.
	For the first four years of their courses, English domiciled medical students receive support from my Department. Students from poorer backgrounds receive means-tested grants for fees of up to £1,125 per year (2003/04 rate). For years five and six, support is provided by the Department of Health, and currently students in those years pay no fee contributions. Most of the cost of their courses is met by the Government through HE Funding Council support.
	Medical students will benefit from the new Higher Education Grants of £1,000 to be introduced in academic year 2004/05, which three in 10 of all students will receive in full and an additional number will receive in part. And in addition to the non means-tested loans undergraduate medical students receive from the Student Loans Company, they can receive means-tested bursaries from the Department of Health in years five and six.

Students Charter

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the Students' Charter was last revised; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The Charter for Higher Education was published in 1993 by the last Government and an addendum was produced in 1997. The document is now obsolete and no longer issued by the Department. Information about students' general entitlements and responsibilities while at university is best prepared at a local level, allowing it to be tailored to reflect the circumstances of the particular institution. Many universities do publish charter-type documents of their own and there are no plans to republish a central document. In addition, our proposals for improving student information mean that institutions will be publishing far more information than ever before about the quality and standards of their provision.

Teaching Assistants

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what national standards his Department (a) sets and (b) recognises for the employment of teaching assistants in schools, with particular reference to (i) pay and (ii) training.

David Miliband: Pay for support staff including teaching assistants is a matter for local determination: the government believes that this is the best way of ensuring a flexible system that can respond to local needs and circumstances. It is also for employers to decide what skills, experience and qualifications are needed for teaching assistant posts and the training of support staff is the responsibility of local authorities and schools.
	In October the National Joint Council (NJC) for Local Government Services published guidance on the employment and grading of school support staff including examples of job profiles that can be used to support job evaluations and advice on training and development. The development of this guidance has been recognised by all signatories to the National Agreement on Raising Standards and Tackling Workload as an important step to support the implementation of the agreement.
	My Department supported the development of the National Occupational Standards for Teaching Assistants by the Local Government National Training Organisation, published in September 2001, which awarding bodies have used to develop NVQs at levels 2 and 3 available from September 2002.
	We have also supported the development of standards for the new higher level teaching assistant (HLTA) role by the Teacher Training Agency (TTA). These were published in September 2003 and link to the standards for qualified teacher status (QTS). We continue to support the TTA as they develop an HLTA assessment and training programme which will be widely available from April 2004.
	The Department has in addition, for the first time, introduced regulations which define the conditions under which school support staff can undertake specified work under the direction and supervision of a teacher. The new Education (Specified Work and Registration) (England) Regulations 2003 emphasise the importance of headteachers satisfying themselves that the member of support staff has been adequately trained and refer to the HLTA standards.

Top-up Fees

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who he intends will be responsible for raising the maximum cap on top-up fees; and by what mechanism.

Alan Johnson: I can assure my hon. Friend that the £3,000 fee cap will not be raised by more than the rate of inflation for the lifetime of the next Parliament.
	The precise mechanism for raising the fee cap will be established under the proposed legislation. Under the current arrangements, the standard fee can be uprated for inflation by negative resolution of the House. However, it can only be increased by more than inflation by affirmative resolution, which would require a debate and vote in both Houses.

Tuition Fees

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the amount that would be raised for higher education per £100 increase in annual tuition fees by all universities.

Alan Johnson: For every £100 increase in annual tuition fees by all universities, the higher education sector would receive approximately £75 million in additional income. 1 This figure was set out in the letter to my hon. Friend from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills dated 11 April 2003, a copy of which is in the House Library.
	1 This is in addition to fee income to universities from the standard fee of £1,125, not including full time post graduates (apart from PGCE students). All figures are for students at English HE Institutions for 2003–04.

Tuition Fees

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the additional amount that will be raised by universities if his proposals for variable top-up fees are implemented;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the amount that would be raised for universities if tuition fees rose to (a) £1,500, (b) £2,000, (c) £2,500 and (d) £3,000 per annum for all universities.

Alan Johnson: From 2006, universities will be able to set their fees above the current standard fee, provided they have an access agreement approved by the Office for Fair Access.
	The following table sets out the approximate extra income from fees if all universities set their fee for all courses at the levels specified 1 :
	1 All figures are for students at English HE Institutions for 2003/04.
	
		£ million
		
			 Level of higher fee Approx. additional income from fees(17) 
		
		
			 £1,500 280 
			 £2,000 660 
			 £2,500 1,035 
			 £3,000 1,410 
		
	
	(17) This is in addition to fee income to universities from the standard fee of £1,125, not including full-time post graduates (apart from PGCE students).

Tuition Fees

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the impact on access by poorer students to medical places if they are charged the maximum tuition fee.

Alan Johnson: The Government have made a number of proposals to safeguard access to higher education for those from low income families. Such students will continue, as now, to have the cost of the standard tuition fee (£1,125 in 2003/04) met by the Government. Around three in 10 students will also receive means tested Higher Education Grants of £1,000 and, in addition, many students from lower income families will be eligible for partial fee remission and HE grant as well as bursaries and other support from universities under arrangements agreed by the Office of Fair Access.
	Fees for English domiciled medical students in years five and six are currently paid by the Department of Health. These students also qualify for means tested NHS bursaries in their fifth and subsequent years of study. Department of Health Ministers have indicated that they will, if necessary, take measures to ensure that any increase in the level of tuition fees will not have an adverse impact on the supply, retention, diversity or quality of students on health professional courses, including medicine.
	Arrangements for repayment of fee loans will, for all graduates, be heavily subsidised: graduates will repay their loans at zero real rate of interest and only when their income exceeds £15,000 per year. Repayments will then be made at a rate of 9 per cent. of income above £15,000. Figures collected in March 2003 show that 73 per cent. of newly qualified medical graduates in hospital posts earn £34,533 per annum. This compares very favourably with the salaries of other newly qualified graduates. According to Graduate Prospects, the average starting salary for graduate-level jobs was £18,000 in 2002/03.
	Finally, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 6 November in which I stated that I had placed in the House Library copies of a number of pieces of international research on the impact on social access to a range of university courses.

Tuition Fees

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will break down by (a) region and (b) local education authority the proportion of students (i) not paying tuition fees and (ii) receiving a contribution towards tuition fees.

Alan Johnson: In England and Wales students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition only if they can afford to do so.
	The percentage of students in England and Wales in academic year 2001/02 (latest year for which data are available) who have been assessed to make a nil or partial contribution towards the cost of their tuition is shown in the table:
	
		Student support scheme students(18): 2001/02
		
			 Academic year Percentage 
		
		
			 Nil contribution towards the cost of tuition from student/parents/spouse/partner(19) 43 
			 Partial contribution towards the cost of tuition from student/parents/spouse/partner 16 
		
	
	(18) Contributions towards the cost of tuition are assessed by local education authorities in England and Wales for students normally domiciled in their area and studying in the UK.
	(19) Includes students on courses where the fee support was not subject to income-assessment (e.g. PGCE courses, and some other ITT courses; and designated courses at private institutions).
	Source:
	F503G survey of local education authorities
	National level data are published annually in the Department's Statistical First Releases (SFRs) (SFR 11/2003 for 2001/02). Data are collected from the Local Education Authorities (LEAs) to produce national estimates and the data collection exercise does not allow for the production of firm figures below this level, and therefore data by region and local education authority are not available.

Tuition Fees

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he plans to provide assistance for graduate teachers in the repayment of graduate contributions towards tuition fees and loans; and what assessment he has made of the effect of his proposals for graduate contributions on teacher recruitment.

Alan Johnson: Since September 2002, the Repayment of Teachers' Loans Scheme has been available on a pilot basis for new teachers of priority subjects taking up employment in maintained schools. This scheme supplements the £6,000 training bursaries and £4,000 Golden Hellos that have been offered to eligible graduate trainees since September 2000. Any changes to these arrangements would be announced at the appropriate time.

Tuition Fees

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what research he has undertaken into the impact of tuition fee increases on student demand for university courses;
	(2)  what research he has undertaken to establish the level of tuition fees that would set supply equal to demand for particular university courses;
	(3)  what research he has undertaken to establish the impact of differential tuition fees on the pattern of student demand for different university courses.

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research has been commissioned by his Department on the effect of (a) upfront tuition fees, (b) deferred repayment of tuition fees and (c) variable tuition fees on university applications.

Alan Johnson: Evidence from research into the impact of variable fees overseas indicates that there is little impact on demand for higher education. I have placed a number of pieces of relevant research in the House Library.

Tuition Fees

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact of variable tuition fees on (a) the number of young people deciding to pursue degree courses and (b) the long-term consequences on (i) skills and (ii) employability of the work force.

Alan Johnson: Evidence from research into the impact of variable fees overseas indicates that there is little impact on demand for higher education. I have placed a number of pieces of relevant research in the House Library. The HE White Paper also explained that research 1 demonstrates that the number of jobs in occupations most likely to be filled by those who have been through Higher Education will grow by over one and a half million over the next decade.
	1 Wilson R. A. and Green A. E. (2001). Projections of qualifications: 2000/2001. Research in support of the National Skills Taskforce, Department for Education and Employment.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with United Nations partners on the Burmese Government's atrocities against the (a) Karen, (b) Karenni and (c) Shan people; and what evidence he has collated on crimes against humanity committed in Burma.

Mike O'Brien: There is no doubt that appalling human rights violations have taken place in Burma over many years and that the ethnic minorities have suffered disproportionately. We regularly discuss these issues with our UN partners at the UN Commission on Human Rights and at the United Nations General Assembly.
	We do not currently have independent verification of crimes against humanity in Burma. However, we receive regular reports from the UN's Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma, the British embassy in Rangoon, and International Non Government Organisations detailing human rights abuses in Burma.

Burma

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the Government has raised concerns with Burma's regime regarding the Burmese military's atrocities against the Karen, Karenni and Shan people in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: We regularly raise human rights abuses, including those against the Karen, Karenni and Shan people, with the Burmese regime.
	Concern over the treatment of ethnic groups in Burma was raised (with the Burmese) at the UN Commission on Human Rights in April 2003 and in last November's UN General Assembly resolution on Burma. Human Rights abuses against the ethnic nationalities were also highlighted by the EU when it strengthened the EU Common Position on Burma earlier this year.

Central African Republic

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the security situation in the Central African Republic; how it has developed since September 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: In a military coup of 15 March 2003, forces loyal to General Bozize took over the capital Bangui, ousting the incumbent President Patasse. After an initial spate of looting and retribution, troops of the Communaute Economique et Monetaire de 1'Afrique Centrale helped restore control. The situation remains volatile outside Bangui, where remnants of Patasse's supporters and local militia have taken advantage of the instability. The transitional government is gradually restoring calm. The government supports international efforts to restore stability to the country.

Central African Republic

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with members of the governments of (a) EU member states, (b) EU candidate countries, (c) member states of the Economic Community of Central African States, (d) South Africa and (e) the USA on the developments in the (i) political and (ii) humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic since March; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: Since March this year, the Government has had regular discussions with international partners in the EU, UN and the region on the political and humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic, and has supported efforts to restore peace and stability there.

Colombia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to assist the Colombian authorities in their fight against terrorist organisations.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn) on 5 November 2003, Official Report, column 654W.

Colombia

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Colombia regarding the legalisation of paramilitary organisations.

Bill Rammell: We are unaware of any moves to legalise paramilitary organisations in Colombia. We have concerns, however, about Decree 128 (2003) which is relevant to the peace process with the AUG. We have stressed to the Colombian Government that in pursuing a peace process with any of the illegal armed groups there should be no general amnesty or pardon for those who have committed human rights violations, and that all negotiations should be open, transparent and treated on the same basis.

East Timor

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs further to his answer of 22 October 2003, Official Report, columns 615–16, if he will publish official statements on East Timor and discussions with the head of the diplomatic service in Jakarta in October 1975.

Mike O'Brien: In accordance with the Public Records Acts the papers relating to the then Permanent Under-Secretary's visit to Indonesia in 1975 will be reviewed in 2005 for release on 1 January 2006. I agreed to the early release of the 1975–76 files relating to the Balibo case on a one-off basis. The release of these files should therefore not be taken as a precedent.

India and Pakistan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) members of the Government of Pakistan, (b) members of the Government of India, (c) members of the governments of EU member states, (d) members of the governments of EU candidate states and (e) members of the Administration of the USA concerning (i) the confidence-building measures proposed by India last week and (ii) the reaction of Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary released two press statements following the Indian announcement of a further package of proposals of ways to improve relations with Pakistan, and Pakistan's formal response. The first statement made on 22 October is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases. The second statement made on 31 October was released locally by our British High Commissions in New Delhi and Islamabad, a copy of which is available on our High Commission in Islamabad's website: britainonline.org.pk/highcomm/downloads/31octa.pdf.
	The Foreign Secretary has also had discussions with both Indian Foreign Minister Sinha and Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri over the last week. Both the Foreign Secretary and I met Foreign Minister Kasuri on 4 November in London, during which we discussed the measures proposed by India and Pakistan to further improve relations between the two countries. Foreign Minister Kasuri said that he hoped both sides would implement quickly the steps on which they agree and work together to close the gap on those where there is less common ground. I also met Tariq Aziz, the Secretary to the National Security Council in Islamabad on 23 October. We remain in regular contact with the US and EU member states over our shared concern to encourage India and Pakistan to work together towards normalising their relations and resolving their differences, including over Kashmir.

Iraq

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the compatibility of order 39, issued by the Coalition Administration of Iraq, with (a) paragraph 43 of the 1907 Hague regulations, (b) the 4th Geneva Convention and (c) UNSCR 1483.

Bill Rammell: The Government are satisfied that UNSCR 1483 (2003) provides a sound legal basis for the CPA Foreign Investment Order. Resolution 1483 authorises the Coalition to undertake activities to promote economic reform in Iraq, in coordination with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General.

Iraq

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has (a) to contribute funds to the reconstruction of Iraq and (b) to develop and implement investment programmes to aid in that reconstruction.

Bill Rammell: At the Iraq Donors Conference held in Madrid on 23 and 24 October my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) announced the UK contribution of £544 million for reconstruction and investment projects in Iraq.

Iraq

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to help with the repayment of Iraqi debt.

Bill Rammell: The UK is playing a very active role in achieving a sustainable solution to Iraq's debt. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is promoting a multilateral settlement through the Paris Club. G7 Finance Ministers have called for this to be achieved by the end of 2004, and for non-Paris Club members to co-operate with this process. A moratorium on debt repayment has been agreed by the members of the Paris Club for that period.

Kashmir

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the governments of (a) India and (b) Pakistan on the situation in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) today (UIN136828).

Narcotics Trade

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to assist South American governments in (a) combating the production of and (b) tackling the international trade in narcotics.

Bill Rammell: The Government are working closely with Latin American and Caribbean countries to address the serious problem of drugs, particularly the production and trafficking of cocaine.
	In FY 2002–03, the FCO's Drugs and Crime Fund (DCF) provided over £5 million in counter-narcotics related assistance to priority countries in Latin America and the Caribbean where illegal drugs are produced or trafficked. This has led to the seizure of over 11 tonnes of cocaine, worth over £662 million, throughout the region so far this year.
	UK counter-drugs assistance focuses on improving local law enforcement capabilities primarily by providing law enforcement training and drug detection equipment. The UK also has 23 Drug Liaison Officers (DLOs) and three Crime Liaison Officers (CLOs) stationed in the region.
	DCF has also supported several UNODC projects in the region, such as training in precursor chemicals in Colombia and illicit coca crop monitoring surveys in Colombia and Peru, which will lead to improved understanding of the nature and scale of the drug problem.

Occupied Territories

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the EU concerning the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed continuing settlement expansion with his EU counterparts at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg on 13 October. The European Council Declarations of 17 October called on Israel to reverse its settlement policy and dismantle settlement outposts.
	We fully support the roadmap's requirement that Israel should immediately freeze all settlement activity, including "natural growth" and dismantle the outposts erected since March 2001. The continuing expansion of settlements in the Occupied Territories threatens the basis for a viable Palestinian state and makes a negotiated settlement more difficult to reach.

Occupied Territories

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the US Administration concerning Israeli activity to expand settlements in the occupied territories.

Bill Rammell: My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean expressed our concerns about Israeli settlement activity to the US Assistant Secretary of State, William Burns, on 24 September. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development also raised the matter with Elliott Abrams, Senior Director of the US National Security Council on 8 October. Our embassy in Washington continues to discuss Israeli settlements in the occupied territories as part of regular discussions with the US Administration on the Middle East Peace Process.

Occupied Territories

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning its efforts to expand settlements and encourage new outposts in the occupied territories.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary expressed our concerns about settlement expansion to the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, when he visited London on 14 July, and the Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom, on 18 July. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean reiterated these representations when she met Mr. Shalom in Jerusalem on 30 September. She also raised settlements and Israeli authorisation of settlement outposts with Yosef Paritzky, the Israel Minister for National Infrastructure on 29 October.

Regions of Knowledge

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what applications the Government has made to the European Commission to ensure that the United Kingdom benefits from the Commission's Regions of Knowledge initiative; what the Government's assessment is of whether this is a productive use of EU funds; and if he will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	Regions of Knowledge is a pilot initiative of the European Parliament which is being administered by the Commission. It invited regional consortia to bid for funds, and consequently it was not appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to apply directly. We are aware that several bids including UK participants were prepared, but those submitted are currently confidential.
	Science research and innovation are key drivers of regional development. The potential value added of this initiative is considerable in comparison to the modest Euro2.5 million funding proposed.

Sri Lanka

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on discrimination against Christians in Sri Lanka.

Mike O'Brien: We are concerned about reports of discrimination against religious minorities (including Christians) in Sri Lanka and regularly raise this, and other human rights issues, with the Sri Lankan Government. Our High Commission monitors the situation closely, and is in regular contact with religious leaders. The right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the Sri Lankan Constitution, and there are dedicated ministries for Christian as well as Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim affairs.

Subcontinent

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current India-Pakistan relations.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had discussions with both Indian Foreign Minister Sinha and Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri in the last week. Both the Foreign Secretary and I met Foreign Minister Kasuri on 4 November in London during which we discussed the measures proposed by India and Pakistan to further improve relations between the two countries. He urged both sides to implement quickly the steps on which they agreed and work together to close the gap on those where there is less common ground. In particular, he urged both governments to find a way forward on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus route, a proposal that was welcomed by Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control. The Foreign Secretary also encouraged both governments to continue to work together towards normalising their relations and resolving their differences, including over Kashmir.

Subcontinent

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Pakistani Foreign Minister's comments on 29 October concerning the proposed confidence building measures initiated by India; what impact those comments have had on the dialogue between the two countries; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) today (UIN136828).

Western Sahara

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with Mr. Kofi Annan on the Western Sahara, with particular reference to Moroccan engagement with the latest Baker Plan.

Bill Rammell: Officials have been in contact with their United Nations counterparts over this issue, particularly in the lead up to the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1513 on 28 October 2003 which extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 January 2004.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Correspondence

Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters of 10 March and 5 September of the right hon. Member for Copeland concerning a constituent awaiting release from prison.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 10 November 2003
	I wrote to the right hon. Member on 12 November.

Criminal Records

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average it took to process an application for screening for criminal records of care home workers in (a) July 2002, (b) October 2002, (c) January 2003, (d) April 2003 and (e) July 2003.

Paul Goggins: The information is not available in the form requested, as there are currently no IT procedures to extract this information from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) database. It is expected that, as systems develop, this information will become available at some point in the future.
	Average turnaround times for Standard and Enhanced Disclosures during the periods specified are shown in the table:
	
		Days
		
			  Standard Enhanced 
		
		
			 July 2002 16.71 21.04 
			 October 2002 16.75 32.00 
			 January 2003 26.00 47.72 
			 April 2003 12.27 23.18 
			 July 2003 19.25 25.91 
		
	
	The turnaround times for January are higher than usual because of lost production days between Christmas and New Year due to staff holidays, and a training and consolidation exercise of new PNC procedures.
	The CRB has been steadily improving its performance since October 2002. The increase in July can be attributed to a surge in applications during the last two weeks in June in advance of the increase in fees which came into effect on 1 July. Approximately 50,000 extra applications were received in addition to the Bureau's normal intake at that time of about 43,000 applications per week. While these extra applications temporarily increased the turnaround times for applications, the CRB nevertheless continued to meet its service standard targets.

Euro

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent in each year by his Department in preparing for UK entry to the euro; how much his Department plans to spend on preparations for UK entry to the euro for each year from the current financial year up to and including 2005–06; and what estimates he has made of the total costs to his Department of changeover to the European Single Currency.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 14 October 2003, Official Report, column 142W.

Miscarriages of Justice (Compensation)

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people freed from prison due to miscarriages of justice, after serving less than 20 years, have received an interim payment for compensation; and what proportion have waited more than nine months for compensation.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 21 October 2003
	This information is not readily available. Interim payments are considered only after eligibility for compensation has been determined. There is then a target to refer any written request for an initial interim payment to the Assessor within five working days.

Prisons

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) built capacity and (b) number of inmates are for each of Her Majesty's Prisons for each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: Figures for operational capacity and population for each prison service establishment in England and Wales in the last three years are set out in the table. These figures represent the position as regards operational capacity and population at end of June for each year:
	
		Prisons: operational capacity and population at end of June for each year
		
			  2002 2001 2000 
			 Prison Population Capacity Population Capacity Population Capacity 
		
		
			 Acklington 111 787 782 782 763 782 
			 Albany 441 446 446 446 439 446 
			 Altcourse(20) 1,004 965 773 850 838 900 
			 Ashfield 319 400 387 400 316 400 
			 Ashwell 481 494 378 386 481 494 
			 Askham Grange 135 141 128 132 113 132 
			 Aylesbury 351 352 355 352 349 355 
			 Bedford 447 440 396 422 353 400 
			 Belmarsh 857 869 829 935 821 869 
			 Birmingham 910 900 830 850 1,027 1,080 
			 Blakenhurst 855 850 817 850 844 850 
			 Blantyre House 120 120 118 120 115 120 
			 Blundestone 421 424 414 424 408 424 
			 Brinsford 464 493 454 493 473 493 
			 Bristol 602 603 548 555 495 569 
			 Brixton 760 772 780 784 799 827 
			 Brockhill 161 167 150 166 155 159 
			 Buckley Hall 203 390 388 390 353 390 
			 Bullingdon 914 933 872 921 852 891 
			 Bullwood Hall 181 184 162 180 160 180 
			 Camp Hill 539 545 535 545 469 485 
			 Canterbury 286 314 273 304 267 300 
			 Cardiff 645 669 616 638 520 707 
			 Castington 329 406 304 406 253 366 
			 Channings Wood 616 625 584 615 570 615 
			 Chelmsford 564 576 463 501 360 501 
			 Coldingley 377 378 363 370 306 322 
			 Cookham Wood 144 153 151 150 137 150 
			 Dartmoor 622 642 594 652 660 712 
			 Deerbolt 478 486 382 426 464 488 
			 Doncaster 1,123 1,111 1,086 1,111 1,023 1,111 
			 Dorchester 242 272 219 272 245 272 
			 Dovegate(21) 724 800 — — — — 
			 Dover 147 158 186 193 310 316 
			 Downview 245 292 322 343 338 343 
			 Drake Hall 276 304 232 267 162 295 
			 Durham 716 730 659 737 883 961 
			 East Sutton Park 95 100 89 100 70 100 
			 Eastwood Park 322 328 299 324 301 328 
			 Elmley 934 955 914 950 895 950 
			 Erlestoke 327 326 320 326 292 326 
			 Everthorpe 374 386 465 470 458 470 
			 Exeter 500 533 469 535 433 527 
			 Featherstone 602 611 581 597 587 599 
			 Feltham 666 715 657 729 717 818 
			 Ford 529 541 339 501 375 501 
			 Forest Bank 981 1040 748 800 716 800 
			 Foston Hall 207 219 156 168 167 182 
			 Frankland 633 638 641 707 519 557 
			 Full Sutton 597 607 581 607 590 596 
			 Garth 645 667 622 653 637 653 
			 Gartree 283 289 284 282 359 366 
			 Glen Parva 802 802 774 802 810 852 
			 Gloucester 300 330 261 281 292 329 
			 Grendon/Spring Hill 453 487 439 457 441 487 
			 Guys Marsh 514 524 508 524 70 524 
			 Haslar 109 160 157 160 301 160 
			 Hatfield 170 180 173 180 895 180 
			 Haverigg 559 564 532 554 292 402 
			 Hewell Grange 187 191 170 187 458 191 
			 Highdown 738 714 724 714 433 714 
			 Highpoint 874 910 821 852 768 812 
			 Hindley 516 559 486 558 380 558 
			 Hollesley Bay 418 462 333 399 311 361 
			 Holloway 480 483 474 483 490 492 
			 Holme House 980 995 953 971 945 971 
			 Hull 663 653 532 633 538 633 
			 Huntercombe 346 352 315 368 339 368 
			 Kingston 184 197 175 193 179 189 
			 Kirkham 528 561 452 577 499 606 
			 Kirklevington 181 183 179 183 173 183 
			 Lancaster 242 244 218 240 137 150 
			 Lancaster Farms 474 546 490 536 462 536 
			 Latchmere House 188 192 163 193 184 193 
			 Leeds 1,253 1,254 1,239 1,254 1,199 1,254 
			 Leicester 371 371 336 361 342 361 
			 Lewes 525 546 443 496 455 496 
			 Leyhill 425 432 383 422 380 422 
			 Lincoln 547 550 496 552 457 520 
			 Lindholme 684 761 579 613 473 642 
			 Littlehey 653 660 606 648 642 648 
			 Liverpool 1,473 1,504 1,233 1,510 1,260 1,510 
			 Long Lartin 440 441 451 523 452 472 
			 Low Newton 286 296 251 285 207 245 
			 Lowdham Grange 521 524 494 500 510 524 
			 Maidstone 448 447 373 393 556 576 
			 Manchester 1,251 1,257 1,117 1,163 1,103 1,163 
			 Moorland 775 779 770 779 764 779 
			 Morton Hall 188 196 188 192 198 208 
			 New Hall 348 396 347 386 366 385 
			 North Sea Camp 245 267 177 208 207 208 
			 Northallerton 222 254 163 264 220 298 
			 Norwich 743 772 699 794 650 744 
			 Nottingham 510 510 501 523 457 466 
			 Onley 504 580 591 640 488 640 
			 Parc 927 968 918 948 813 920 
			 Parkhurst 515 527 406 517 451 522 
			 Pentonville 1,167 1,175 1,183 1,175 1,076 1,175 
			 Portland 450 542 509 542 523 572 
			 Preston 633 630 552 602 551 620 
			 Ranby 757 778 729 779 736 779 
			 Reading 265 289 219 241 220 247 
			 Risley 833 835 803 837 792 824 
			 Rochester 169 164 373 444 357 444 
			 Rye Hill(22) 658 660 597 600 — — 
			 Send 215 220 216 220 201 220 
			 Shepton Mallet 180 189 149 174 208 224 
			 Shrewsbury 343 342 311 342 331 342 
			 Stafford 636 640 615 627 624 627 
			 Standford Hill 373 384 328 384 281 384 
			 Stocken 571 582 571 582 572 582 
			 Stoke Heath 652 688 531 564 573 622 
			 Styal 455 463 424 455 449 455 
			 Sudbury 507 519 498 519 502 519 
			 Swaleside 111 111 743 775 735 782 
			 Swansea 361 366 187 201 295 346 
			 Swinfen Hall 306 320 307 319 301 320 
			 The Mount 750 760 719 745 739 745 
			 The Verne 583 587 566 577 562 577 
			 The Weare 394 400 387 400 372 400 
			 The Wolds 409 410 397 405 401 405 
			 Thorn Cross 200 316 221 316 235 316 
			 Usk/Prescoed 331 348 329 348 295 339 
			 Wakefield 571 581 558 586 562 578 
			 Wandsworth 1,443 1,461 1,342 1,371 1,277 1,371 
			 Wayland 648 660 619 648 634 648 
			 Wealstun 622 632 612 632 611 628 
			 Wellingborough 521 526 505 518 503 518 
			 Werrington 130 134 132 140 100 106 
			 Wetherby 333 360 345 360 271 360 
			 Whatton 276 280 273 275 269 275 
			 Whitemoor 420 444 370 408 384 408 
			 Winchester 619 637 602 630 569 624 
			 Woodhill 726 773 641 775 631 781 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 1,190 1,192 981 987 801 847 
			 Wymott 813 821 776 805 795 805 
		
	
	(20) Altcourse increased its operational capacity to 1,010 in July 2002.
	(21) Dovegate opened in July 2001.
	(22) Rye Hill opened in January 2001.
	The figures in the "Capacity" columns of the table refer to operational capacity: the total number of prisoners that an establishment can hold, taking into account control, security and the proper operation of the planned regime. It is determined by area managers on the basis of operational judgement and experience.
	The figures in "Population" columns in the table may include prisoners out on authorised absence, which can cause the official population to appear slightly higher than the operational capacity.

Entertainment

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by his Department in the last 12 months on entertainment, broken down by the costs of (a) food and (b) drink.

David Blunkett: Home Office expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.
	In 2002–03, the cost of hospitality (entertaining non-civil servants) and management entertainment of civil servants was £72,000. This was about 0.006 per cent. of the Home Department's Administration Costs in the 2002–03 Resource Accounts. The Department does not separately identify the costs of food and drink.

Recovered Assets Incentive Fund

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations, and at which level, will be able to bid for sums from the Recovered Assets Incentive Fund; whether bids will be permitted direct from (a) police operational command units and (b) local crime and disorder partnerships; against what criteria bids will be assessed; what amount he expects to be available under the Fund in (i) this and (ii) the next financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Recovered Assets Incentive Fund was set up this financial year to incentivise asset recovery by asset recovery agencies including law enforcement and prosecuting authorities. £15.5 million a year for three years has been allocated to the Fund. The funds have been fully committed over the next three years to projects agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and others, that will increase the confiscation of criminal assets. The fund is not open to bids from other organisations or partnerships.
	Of £46.5 million that will be available under the Fund over the next three years, up to £38 million will be spent on funding an ACPO proposal to set up an additional four multi-agency regional asset recovery teams to disrupt organised crime groups and to confiscate criminal assets. The teams will comprise staff from the police, National Crime Squad, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, National Criminal Intelligence Service, Crown Prosecution Service, Assets Recovery Agency and Inland Revenue. The balance of the Fund will be spent on asset recovery projects managed respectively by the Crown Prosecution Service, the Department for Constitutional Affairs, and the Assets Recovery Agency.
	An additional £7 million a year for three years has been made available separately from the Recovered Assets Incentive Fund for community projects. This year £4 million has been allocated to the Adventure Capital Fund to regenerate communities. The Adventure Capital Fund Round 2 is open to applications from community-based organisations operating anywhere in England, which are engaged in specified areas of activity including crime reduction and drug prevention, and which are seeking to achieve sustainability through enterprise, while investing surpluses for community benefit. The Adventure Capital fund is not open to bids from other organisations or partnerships.
	£1.5 million has been allocated to anti-gun crime initiatives. £1.2 million of this is being disbursed by eight of the regional government offices to projects that will help local communities in the most affected areas in tackling gun crime and gun culture. The money has now been allocated and is not open to bids. £300,000 is being used to support the Disarm Trust, and it is open to projects working to tackle gun crime in local communities to seek support or funding from the Trust. A further £1.5 million has been allocated to regional government offices to fund capacity building in crime and disorder reduction partnerships.
	Of the £7 million available for next year, £3 million has been committed to fund community justice centre pilot schemes. The balance of £4 million is not yet committed but there are no plans to invite specific bids.

Sentencing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal convictions (a) carried a prison sentence and (b) carried a community-based sentence, in each year from 1990 to 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The available information is contained in the table.
	Statistics for 2002 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of offenders sentenced to a community sentence or immediate custody for all offences at all courts(23)
		
			 England and Wales 1990–2001 Community sentence Immediate custody 
		
		
			 1990 100,884 57,748 
			 1991 104,457 61,363 
			 1992 102,413 58,092 
			 1993 114,806 58,738 
			 1994 128,875 69,588 
			 1995 129,922 79,538 
			 1996 132,637 85,249 
			 1997 139,990 93,841 
			 1998 149,388 100,566 
			 1999 151,633 105,323 
			 2000(24) 155,538 106,187 
			 2001 164,997 106,273 
		
	
	(23) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(24) Staffordshire Police Force were only able to supply a sample of data for magistrates courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Estimates based on this sample are included in the figures, as they are considered sufficiently robust at this high level of analysis.

Terrorism Offences

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) convicted and (b) acquitted of offences under the (i) Terrorism Act 2000 and (ii) Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

David Blunkett: holding answer 11 November 2003
	According to Home Office records cross-referenced with records held by the National Joint Unit in New Scotland Yard and the Crown Prosecution Service show that 25 individuals have been convicted under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. There have been no acquittals.
	Figures on how many individuals have been convicted and acquitted under the Terrorism Act 2000 are published annually in the Criminal Statistics for England and Wales supplementary tables. The latest published figures are for the financial year 2001–02 and show that two individuals were convicted and two were acquitted. The Terrorism Act provides a range of important powers for the police to conduct investigation. Many of these arrested under its provisions are subsequently charged under other criminal legislation.
	Figures for 2002–03 are due to be published later this year. Figures for 2003–04 will be published when the relevant data has been collated and verified.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Belfast-Larne Railway

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the speed restrictions that apply to the Belfast to Larne railway line.

John Spellar: The details in the table show all the permanent speed restrictions on the Belfast/Larne line. There are currently no temporary speed restrictions on the line at this time.
	Translink anticipate that once the track relay between Bleach Green Junction and Whitehead is complete and tested trains can revert to the line speed which is appropriate for track geometry for that section of line.
	
		Permanent speed restrictions on the Belfast/Larne line
		
			 Reason Location Mileposts Mph 
		
		
			 Track alignment Lagan Junction—Donegall Quay 113.75–114.00 30 
			 Track alignment Donegall Quay—Yorkgate (Signal 217–219) 114.00–115.00 45 
			 Track alignment Donegall Quay—(to and from up loop) 114.25–114.50 25 
			 Track condition Carrickfergus—Jordanstown (up line only) 10.00–05.25 30 
			 Track condition Jordanstown—Bleach Green Junction (up line only) 05.25–04.75 20 
			 Track condition Bleach Green Junction (down line to Larne line) 04.75–05.00 50 
			 Track condition Bleach Green Junction—Jordanstown (down line only) 05.00–05.50 30 
			 Track condition Jordanstown—Trooperslane (down line only) 05.50–07.75 50 
			 Track condition Trooperslane (down line only) 07.75–08.25 30 
			 Track condition Trooperslane—Carrickfergus ( down line only) 08.25–09.50 50 
			 Track condition Carrickfergus station (down line only) 09.50–09.75 30 
			 Track alignment Kilroot—Down line to single line 12.25–12.50 30 
			 Track condition Whitehead (to and from Up Loop) 14.25–14.50 15 
			 Track condition Through Whitehead station 14.25–14.75 30 
			 Track alignment Magheramorne Curves 19.50–20.00 30 
			 Track alignment Larne Town Curves 23.00–24.25 40 
			 Track alignment Larne Town—Larne Harbour single line to Down line (through No. 940 points) 23.75–24.00 20

Belfast-Larne Railway

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the new trains and rolling stock for the Northern Ireland network will be allocated to serve on the East Antrim line between Belfast to Larne; and when these trains and rolling stock will be operational in (a) East Antrim and (b) other areas of Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: Translink advise that they have set up a team to determine optimum use of the new train sets on the basis of accessibility and logistics, potential for passenger growth, current infrastructure constraints and other criteria including improvement of network integration. They will announce their intentions for the new train sets when this work is complete. It is intended that the first new train set should be in operation in mid 2004 with the remaining 22 sets coming into service progressively during the rest of 2004 and 2005.

Community and Voluntary Sector

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the results of the Department of Social Development study into whether a section of the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland requires an alternative to lottery-based funding will be published; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: The Voluntary and Community Unit (VCU) within the Department for Social Development (DSD) commissioned research jointly with the Community Relations Council to assess the level of access to lottery funds by religious groups and the impact on groups with religious objections to applying for lottery funding. Work is under way to prepare a summary publication of the results of the research for general release. There is no specific date for publication but it is anticipated that this will take place in the new year.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has overall policy responsibility for lottery funding and officials from VCU will discuss the research findings with DCMS in due course.

Curriculum

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the results of the review of the enriched curriculum trial in the Belfast Education and Library Board area will be made available.

Jane Kennedy: This is a four-year study and the results should be available around the autumn of 2004. Some interim results on pupils at the end of year 3 have been made available to individual schools in the Shankill area of Belfast for information.

Disabled Grants Scheme

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications to the Disabled Grants Scheme are outstanding; and what plans he has to introduce targets to speed up the application process.

John Spellar: I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Eastern Board GPs

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many GP practices within the Eastern Board are (a) accepting and (b) refusing to accept new patients onto their lists.

Angela Smith: There are 184 GP practices in the Eastern Board and according to the information currently held by the Central Services Agency (CSA) they are all accepting patients, and no GP has notified the CSA that they have closed their list.

Employment

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) jobs have been lost and (b) new jobs have been created in Northern Ireland in the past year.

Ian Pearson: Over the 12 months to 7 November 2003, there were 4,957 redundancies in Northern Ireland confirmed to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
	Information on the number of jobs created is not available. However, figures from the NI Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) can be used to estimate the net change in employee jobs during the past year. Latest figures from the June 2003 QES showed that there were 667,610 employee jobs in Northern Ireland. This represented an increase of 5,650 (0.9 per cent.) from the figure for June 2002.

Energy Market

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland regarding the promotion of an integrated energy market on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I met Dermot Ahern TD, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in July 2003 to consider further cross-border cooperation on energy in the context of the planned European single market for electricity and gas by 2007.
	The discussion covered cross-border electricity trading arrangements, electricity systems interconnection and integration, all-island gas network, regulatory collaboration, climate change, emissions and renewable energy, and energy efficiency polices. We agreed that both Governments have a shared interest in more open and competitive energy markets, reduced energy costs and improved reliability of supply; and that any integration of energy markets should be mutually beneficial.
	A joint steering group of senior officials from the two lead departments (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources) and the two regulatory authorities has been established to oversee on-going work on cross-border energy issues.

Fireworks

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals have been charged with (a) selling fireworks illegally and (b) other fireworks offences in 2003.

Jane Kennedy: The Police Service of Northern Ireland, whose responsibility it is to enforce the fireworks regulations, do not centrally collate statistics on persons charged with selling fireworks illegally or other offences in respect of fireworks.

Fisheries Conservancy Board

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what year the last annual report of the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland was published; when he expects to publish the outstanding annual reports; and what the reasons are for delays in publication.

Angela Smith: The Annual Report for the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland for the year ended 31 December 2001 was laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly in December 2002. Copies of the Board's Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2002 will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses, and in the Northern Ireland Assembly Library, at the end of November or early December 2003. There have been no significant delays in publishing the FCB Annual Reports.

Intensive Care Beds

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many intensive care beds there are in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		Number of intensive care beds in Northern Ireland
		
			 Provider Trust Acute Mental Health 
		
		
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 7 0 
			 Mater Infirmorum HSS Trust 3 0 
			 The Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 15 0 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust 6 0 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 6 0 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 0 18 
			 United Hospitals HSS Trust 6 0 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 0 14 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 7 0 
			 Altnagelvin Area Hospitals HSS Trust 5 0 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 0 8 
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust 0 10 
			 Northern Ireland 55 50 
		
	
	Source:Northern Ireland HPSS Trusts

Medical Staff

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to protect medical staff in Northern Ireland from violent attacks.

Angela Smith: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is concerned about violent attacks against all staff working in the Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) and regards such incidents as totally unacceptable.
	Guidance, recommending the successful NHS initiative, "Zero Tolerance", was issued to Employing Authorities in the HPSS in February 2000 and the Department set up a working group in February 2002 to examine the current arrangements for reducing the potential risks of violence against HPSS staff. The group reported in December 2002. After a period of consultation the Department issued further guidance and a final report to HPSS employers in September 2003. The Department has made the report available on the HPSS Extranet and has encouraged employers to share its contents widely with Professional Directors and those Directors responsible for programmes of care and facilities where staff may be exposed to risk with a view to reducing the risk of violence to all HPSS staff.

Mental Health

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many in-patient beds there are for child and adolescent psychiatry in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: In 2002–03 there were, on average, 31 in-patient beds available for child and adolescent psychiatry.

Mental Health

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many inpatient beds there are in Northern Ireland for addictions treatment.

Angela Smith: The information is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Provider Trust Number of beds in Northern Ireland, designated for the treatment of addictions 
		
		
			 Down and Lisburn HSS Trust 14 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust 7 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 10 
			 United Hospitals HSS Trust 6 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 10 
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust 7 
			 Northern Ireland 54 
		
	
	Source
	Northern Ireland HPSS Trusts

Pacemakers

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients in Northern Ireland have received pacemakers in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The total number of patients who have had a pacemaker implanted in each of the last five years is shown in the table.
	
		Patients who had a pacemaker implanted
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998–99 527 
			 1999–2000 594 
			 2000–01 705 
			 2001–02 742 
			 2002–03 637 
		
	
	Source
	Hospital Inpatients System

Physical Punishment

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will publish the findings from the consultation paper, "Physical Punishment in the Home: Thinking About the Issues, Looking at the Evidence", issued in September 2001.

Ian Pearson: The Office of Law Reform is now in the later stages of preparing an analysis of responses for publication. It is expected that publication will proceed in the new year.

Population Distribution

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what proportion of the population were identified within (a) the Unionist tradition and (b) the Nationalist tradition in each local authority at the time of each census since 1961;
	(2)  what evidence he has collated of changes in the balance of communities between Unionist and Nationalist traditions (a) in each ward in the City of Belfast and (b) in each ward of the City of Londonderry, since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the causes of those changes.

Ian Pearson: The Census of Population does not ask respondents about whether they consider themselves to be from a Unionist or Nationalist tradition. Accordingly the Census cannot provide the information requested. Information on Unionist and Nationalist identity is usually obtained from sample surveys. However the sample sizes are too small to allow robust estimation at local authority and ward level.

Private Anthony Green

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the police were notified of the shooting and subsequent death of Private Anthony Green at Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly on 24 January 2001; when police officers arrived at the scene; when the scene of the crime was secured; when Corporal William Graham was interviewed; when interviews were conducted with each of the other occupants of the vehicle from which the fatal shot was fired, listing their ranks; when Corporal William Graham was arrested; and when he was charged.

Jane Kennedy: The police were notified of the shooting of Private Green at 14.49 hours on 24 January 2001, they attended and secured the scene at 15.15 hours. Private Graham was arrested and interviewed on 25 January 2001 for unlawful wounding. Interviews took place with three non-commissioned officers on 24 January and statements were obtained on 25 January 2001. Private Graham reported back on bail on 14 February 2001 and was re-arrested for the offence of manslaughter. He was released from police custody to be dealt with by way of report to the Department of Public Prosecutions and was committed for trial on 5 December 2001.

Private Anthony Green

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps were taken to secure weapons and ammunition following the fatal shooting of Private Anthony Green on 24 January 2001.

Jane Kennedy: The offending firearm, magazine and spent case were secured in situ and a full forensic examination of the scene was conducted. Following that, the firearm, magazine and spent case were packaged and forwarded to the forensic science laboratory for examination and testing.

Private Anthony Green

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many witness statements were taken in the investigation of the shooting of Private Anthony Green on 24 January 2001.

Jane Kennedy: A total of 24 witness statements were taken.

Private Anthony Green

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when Detective Sergeant Doherty was informed that questions in the House had been asked concerning the death of Private Anthony Green; and what authorisation was subsequently sought to discuss this with a bereaved relative on 29 June 2001.

Jane Kennedy: Detective Sergeant Doherty became aware that questions in the House had been asked shortly after they had been tabled. As the family liaison officer he spoke to Private Green's wife and his mother, to inform them that these matters were of interest to hon. Members.

Private Anthony Green

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in whose custody and at what location the pages of the occurrence log for the Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly covering 24 January 2001 are.

Jane Kennedy: The original watch keeper's log for 24 January 2001 is held in military archives at HQNI Lisburn.

Private Anthony Green

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what rank of officer was responsible for liaison with the family of Private Anthony Green following the fatal shooting on 24 January 2001; what the reasons were for the cancellation of the meeting with the mother of the deceased arranged for 24 September; what measures are planned to compensate Mrs. Green financially for the costs incurred in taking off time from work and arranging travel to Northern Ireland; and if he will ensure that arrangements are made for a new appointment.

Jane Kennedy: Detective Sergeant Doherty was the deputy senior investigation officer in this case and also acted in the role of family liaison officer updating the family on a regular basis. On 12 September 2003 the police were contacted by the Northern Echo newspaper and asked to respond to what appeared to be a complaint that police had failed to fully investigate her son's death. It was decided to postpone the meeting until it was clear what the precise nature of the allegations were. The meeting with Private Anthony Green's mother was postponed on 22 September, through her solicitors who undertook to inform their client.
	I am advised by the Chief Constable of the PSNI that no request for a further meeting has been received, and that the police are available to discuss any outstanding matters of concern with the family. I understand that they have been in touch with Mrs. Green's solicitors in October with a view to arranging a meeting. The matter of compensation has not previously been raised by Mrs. Green or her solicitors but will certainly be considered by the PSNI if she supplies details along with properly receipted documentation for any financial loss incurred.

Private Anthony Green

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of the investigation into the death of Private Anthony Green.

Jane Kennedy: No costing programme was required to be kept in respect of this particular investigation and this could be obtained now only at disproportionate cost.

Secondary Schools

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the secondary schools which have (a) increased their intake by more than 10 per cent. and (b) reduced their intake by more than 10 per cent. since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: Information from the Annual School Census is as follows:
	(a) Increased intake by more than 10 per cent.
	Ashfield Boys' High School
	Ashfield Girls' High School
	Aughnacloy High School
	Clounagh Junior High School
	Craigavon Senior High School
	Cross and Passion College
	Down Academy
	Drumglass High School
	Dunmuny High School
	Enniskillen High School
	Fivemiletown High School and Community College
	Integrated College Dungannon
	Lisnagarvey High School
	Lisnaskea High School
	Lurgan Junior High School
	Maghera High School
	Meanscoil Feirste
	Monkstown Community College
	Newtownhamilton High School
	North Coast Integrated College
	Slemish Integrated College
	St. Catherine's College
	St. Columban's High School
	St. Columbanus's College
	St. Fanchea's College
	St. Joseph's High School, Coleraine
	St. Joseph's Boys' High School, Newry
	St. Malachy's High School, Castlewellan
	St. Mary's High School, Belleek
	St. Mary's College, Irvinestown
	St. Mary's Grammar School, Magherafelt
	St. Patrick's and St Brigid's High School
	St. Patrick's College, Bearnageeha
	St. Rose's High School (b) Decreased intake by more than 10 per cent.
	Bailee Community High School
	Ballycastle High School
	Balmoral High School
	Belfast Boys' Model School
	Carrickfergus College
	Castle High School
	Castlederg High School
	City of Armagh High School
	Coleraine Academical Institution
	Coleraine College
	Comber High School
	Cookstown High School
	Corpus Christi College
	Crumlin High School
	Drumcree College
	Drumragh College
	Duke of Westminster High School
	Dundonald High School
	Edmund Rice College
	Erne Integrated College
	Faughan Valley High School
	Holy Trinity College
	Lismore Comprehensive School
	Lisnasharragh High School
	Little Flower Girls' School
	Massereene Community College
	Mount Gilbert Community College
	Movilla High School
	Newtownabbey Community High School
	NewiyHigh School
	Omagh High School
	Orangefield High School
	Our Lady of Lourdes High School
	Our Lady of Mercy Girls' School, Belfast
	Our Lady of Mercy High School, Strabane
	Priory College
	St. Aidan's High School
	St. Brecan's High School
	St. Brigid's Fligh School, Armagh
	St. Ciaran's High School
	St. Colman's High School, Strabane
	St. Comgall's High School, Larne
	St. Comhghall's Fligh School, Lisnaskea
	St. Eugene's College, Roslea
	St. Eugene's High School, Castlederg
	St. Gabriel's School
	St. Gemma's High School
	St. John's Fligh School
	St. Joseph's College, Enniskillen
	St. Joseph's High School, Crossmaglen
	St. Joseph's High School, Coalisland
	St. Malachy's High School, Antrim
	St. Mark's High School
	St. Mary's College, Ballymena
	St. Mary's Fligh School, Downpatrick
	St. Olcan's High School
	St. Patrick's College, Ballymena
	St. Patrick's High School, Dungiven
	St. Patrick's High School, Lisburn
	St. Patrick's College, Dungannon
	Strabane High School
	Tandragee Junior High School
	Templemore Secondary School

Smoking

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to ban smoking on trains.

John Spellar: Translink has advised that there has been a smoking ban on trains since April 1997.

Smoking

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on smoking in public houses in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The policy on smoking in public houses in Northern Ireland is driven by the Public Places Charter, launched by the Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade in October 2000. To date, over 700 licensed premises have signed up to the Charter which aims to encourage venues to improve provision for non-smokers as well as overall air quality. Potential customers are able to make informed choice by identifying the smoking policies in public houses and restaurants through appropriate signage.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety published a five year Tobacco Action Plan in July 2003. The Plan identifies 24 separate action points which are being taken forward by an Implementation Group. These include actions to promote the provision of smoke-free public places.

Social Housing

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many social housing properties (a) are vacant and (b) have been constructed in the last five years in each local government area in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: At 30 September 2003 the Housing Executive had 6,041 vacant properties. At 31 March 2003 registered house associations had 1,208 vacant properties.
	The attached table details the number of social houses completed in the five year period 1998–99 to 2002–03.
	
		Social housing: Completions for years 1998–99 to 2002–03 -- Houses completed
		
			 District council 1998–00 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Antrim 13 4 0 31 9 
			 Ards 36 7 15 84 0 
			 Armagh 25 102 10 19 0 
			 Ballymena 80 11 60 27 33 
			 Ballymoney 11 0 12 0 4 
			 Banbridge 37 0 10 32 1 
			 Belfast 542 542 483 681 392 
			 Carrick 33 31 52 27 15 
			 Castlereagh 0 0 84 20 6 
			 Coleraine 16 62 27 10 0 
			 Cookstown 21 12 0 7 0 
			 Craigavon 71 53 58 13 0 
			 Derry 242 188 135 336 334 
			 Down 97 69 116 37 51 
			 Dungannon 20 44 3 12 14 
			 Fermanagh 42 67 35 38 5 
			 Larne 49 0 0 15 0 
			 Limavady 0 53 42 22 31 
			 Lisburn 72 137 132 172 86 
			 Magherafelt 13 24 6 2 5 
			 Moyle 37 28 0 0 0 
			 Newry and Mourne 91 46 80 25 38 
			 Newtownabbey 34 20 32 27 12 
			 North Down 9 97 4 56 44 
			 Omagh 31 116 37 25 5 
			 Strabane 66 25 75 62 50 
			 Total 1,688 1,738 1,508 1,780 1,135

Work-related Stress

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The information requested is not held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

CABINET OFFICE

Spam E-mails

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action he is taking to tackle spam e-mails as they affect e-government.

Stephen Timms: Junk e-mail or spam is a nuisance to all internet users and may slow down and impair the efficiency of networks. There will be new regulatory controls here on the sending of unsolicited direct marketing e-mail under the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, which come into force on 11 December. The UK is also active in international discussions on how to tackle the problem of cross border spam, both in fora like the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and bilaterally with the US and other national governments (in October this year, for instance, Andrew Finder, the E-Envoy, took part in a visit to Washington to talk to US legislators and officials about spam issues).

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Bankruptcy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the current costs for which (a) a company, (b) a creditor and (c) a debtor is responsible when petitioning for bankruptcy; how much revenue has been generated from the costs of administering (i) company winding up petitions, (ii) creditors' bankruptcy petitions and (iii) debtors bankruptcy petitions in each year since 1997, broken down by (A) nation and (B) region of the United Kingdom; and what plans he has to undertake a review of these costs.

Christopher Leslie: The cost of insolvency from the point of view of the parties is made up of (a) fees charged by the Court Service, an executive agency of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, on issue and subsequent steps in the court proceedings; (b) fees charged by the Insolvency Service (part of the DTI); (c) lawyers and accountants fees.
	My Department is not in a position to provide a breakdown of (a-c) from the point of view of the parties to the proceedings, either nationally or locally as it deals only with the part of the process relevant to (a).
	The fees currently payable (relevant to (a) above) on issue of proceedings are:
	Debtor's Petition: £140
	Creditor's Petition: £180
	Winding up Petition: £180
	Further fees may be payable during the course of the proceedings depending on the steps taken by parties. Those unable to pay the fees and in receipt of specified means tested benefits may claim exemption. Those not qualifying for exemption may apply for remission on grounds of hardship.
	Lists of the fees payable on issue of insolvency proceedings (and the exemption and remission provisions) are published annually in the Civil Court Practice. Prior to the Civil Justice Reforms of April 1999 the same information was published annually in the County Court Practice and Supreme Court Practice. All of these publications are available in the Library of both Houses.
	Figures on cost and income in insolvency proceedings (relevant to (a) above) are published in the Court Service Annual Report and Accounts. In the latest edition, 2002–03 (page 51), the cost of insolvency to the Court Service was put at £9,259,000. Income was put at £7,103,000. The Court Service Annual Report and Accounts is available in the Library of both Houses and on the internet www.courtservice.gov.uk/about us/our performance/annual report 02 03 contents.htm.
	The Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor has no plan to carry out a review of the total cost of insolvency from the point of view of the parties to the proceedings.

Bankruptcy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many petitions for debtors' bankruptcy in each year since 1997 the court fee was waived because the petitioner was receiving on benefits, broken down by nation and region.

Christopher Leslie: Figures collected centrally relating to the number of applications for fee exemption and/or remission are not broken down into specific insolvency petition type and do not include the reasons therefore. They have been collected since April 1998 and only relate to the county courts in England and Wales.
	The overall number of applications for fee exemption/remission for insolvency petitions since April 1998, by court and region, are provided in the following table.
	
		Applications for fee exemption/remission in Insolvency petitions made in the county courts
		
			 Region 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 East Midlands 47 118 169 300 338 327 
			 Eastern 76 302 491 579 747 569 
			 London 4 22 52 82 250 157 
			 Merseyside 3 32 48 96 165 179 
			 North East 11 37 161 272 204 595 
			 NorthWest 132 170 265 479 481 538 
			 South East 302 307 479 537 719 691 
			 South West 107 310 372 674 813 948 
			 West Midlands 121 133 175 234 414 490 
			 Yorkshire & Humber 139 570 901 895 919 586 
			 England 942 2,001 3,113 4,148 5,050 5,080 
			 Wales 38 93 357 536 468 288 
			 England & Wales 980 2,094 3,470 4,684 5,518 5,368

Court Buildings

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was spent on (a) repairs to and (b) staffing costs in court buildings in (i) Lancashire and (ii) Chorley, broken down by court in the last year for which figures are available.

Christopher Leslie: The actual expenditure on staffing costs and repairs to buildings is set out in the following table.
	
		£
		
			  Total expenditure on staffing costs Total expenditure on maintenance/repairs 
		
		
			 Preston County Court 564,509 58,144 
			 Preston Crown Court 1,217,498 12,115 
			 Accrington County Court 118,036 9,246 
			 Nelson County Court 85,734 1,312 
			 Rawtenstall County Court 170,313 848 
			 Blackburn County Court 416,210 3,624 
			 Burnley County Court 248,290 11,952 
			 Burnley Crown Court 301,788 — 
			 Blackpool County Court 497,451 5,636 
			 Chorley County Court 133,466 1,544 
			 Lancaster County Court 205,910 4,231 
			 Total for Lancashire 3,959,205 108,652

Legal Aid

Sally Keeble: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was paid out in (a) immigration and asylum legal aid and (b) total legal aid in (i) England and (ii) the East Midlands in each year since April 2000.

David Lammy: holding answer 29 October 2003
	Legal aid payments are made by the Legal Services Commission, and for criminal legal aid in the higher courts, by the Court Service. Information about such payments will include work done outside the area and will also include payments to practitioners based outside the area. It is therefore not possible readily to identify separately payments relating to work done within a particular region. The figures given for the East Midlands are therefore estimates based on payments processed by the relevant Legal Services Commission Area Office and Court Service Office. Legal aid expenditure for immigration and asylum 1 for the whole of England and Wales, compared to the East Midlands was as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  England and Wales(26) East Midlands 
		
		
			 2000–01 81.1 2.1 
			 2001–02 129.4 3.1 
			 2002–03 176.2 4.4 
		
	
	Expenditure for all legal aid for the whole of England and Wales compared to the East Midlands was as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  England and Wales(26) East Midlands 
		
		
			 2000–01 1,664.4 102.6 
			 2001–02 l,716.9 103.5 
			 2002–03 1,908.6 117.8 
		
	
	(25) Expenditure for immigration and asylum are the latest estimates and may differ slightly from previous figures given.
	(26) Legal aid is administered nationally by the Legal Services Commission and the Court Service within England and Wales. In order to reduce the inaccuracies of regional estimates, payments made by offices within Wales have been included.

Magistrates Courts (Merseyside)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the collection of fines imposed by magistrates courts on Merseyside.

Christopher Leslie: The performance of the Merseyside Magistrates Courts (MCCs) in the collection of fines has not been satisfactory. However, there has been a steady improvement in the performance of the MCC over the last 12 months indicated by an 8 per cent. point increase from 31 per cent. in the corresponding quarter one figure in 2002–03. Merseyside MCC is one of the 12 MCCs that has been selected as needing support in driving up fine enforcement performance, and is now part of a Targeted Interventions Project.

Work-related Stress

Vincent Cable: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cases of work related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Detailed sick absence statistics are derived from medical and self-certificates, which are completed by staff or their GPs. While certain illnesses, such as "depression", "anxiety", "general debility" and even "stress" may be indicated on certificates, it is not possible to determine levels of "work-related stress". Consequently, we have no details on the number of working days lost due to work-related stress or the cost to the Department.
	However, we know from recent staff opinion surveys that undue stress at work is a problem for some staff. To deal with this we have introduced a range of stress management courses for both managers and non-managers. Our in-house Welfare service is fully trained, and ideally placed, to deal with issues involving work-related stress.
	My Department introduced a wide range of work-life balance policies during 2001, enabling staff to adopt more effective working patterns to better balance their work and home life. My Department won the Opportunity Now National Public Sector award earlier this year for these policies.
	We have a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for all our staff and, under the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative, we are committed to meeting targets for reducing the number of working days lost generally to work related injuries and illnesses.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Automated Credit Transfer

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library the conclusions of research undertaken by departmental analysts prior to the introduction of benefit payment by automatic credit transfer.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the Department of Social Security research report no. 146; Payment of pensions and benefits: A survey of social security recipients paid by order book or girocheque, available in the Library.

Automated Credit Transfer

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets have been set for the payment of benefits by automated credit transfer; and if he will make a statement on the progress towards these targets in each benefit category.

Chris Pond: The Department has a published Public Service Agreement target that by 2005, 85 per cent. of customers will have their benefits paid by Direct Payment.
	Key figures on the progress of conversion to Direct Payment are available in the Library updated every four weeks.

Benefit Overpayments

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many requests he received to waive recovery of benefit and grant overpayments in the last year for which figures are available; and how many of these were granted.

Chris Pond: Between April 2002 and March 2003 we received 689 requests to waive recovery of benefit and grant overpayments, of which 85 were granted.

Benefits Appeals

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases taken to a benefits appeal tribunal were upheld where the central issue related to partial sight or blindness in each of the last five years.

Chris Pond: This is a matter for Christina Townsend Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will reply to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Christina Townsend to Mr. Mike Wood, dated 12 November 2003
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding the number of cases taken to a benefits appeal tribunal which were upheld where the central issue was related to partial sight or blindness in each of the last five years. Unfortunately we do not record cases broken down by partial sight or blindness across benefits; the information is therefore not available.
	I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.

Child Support Agency

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when existing Child Support Agency cases will be transferred to the new assessment system.

Chris Pond: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson) on 16 September 2003, Official Report, columns 696–97W.

Civil Servants

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants in the Department achieved personal bonus targets in 2002–03; and what the total value of personal bonus targets was.

Maria Eagle: The Department does not operate a personal bonus target scheme. However, we estimate that approximately 110,000 staff achieved a level of performance during 2002–03 to qualify for a performance bonus as part of the forthcoming 2003 pay settlement. The settlement has not yet been finalised, but expenditure on performance bonuses last year amounted to £24.75 million.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to the letter dated 3 October from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan to the hon. Member for Gravesham (Mr. Pond) regarding his constituent, Ms E. Verney, of Cruden Bay.

Chris Pond: I replied to the hon. Member on 7 November.

Disability

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received regarding access to different modes of transport by disabled people.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department receives correspondence both from individuals and organisations on all aspects of transport policy as it relates to disabled people.
	We also invite comments, both in our regular dealings with disability organisations and through public consultation, on new proposals to improve access for disabled people to public transport.

Employment Demand

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what forecast he has made of the demand in the United Kingdom labour market in (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years' time; what forecast he has made of the need for (i) graduates, (ii) those with vocational qualifications and (iii) semi-skilled and unskilled workers; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: By long-standing convention, the Department for Work and Pensions does not make forecasts of the overall level of demand for labour.
	Research published in the Skills in England Report 2002, suggests that demand for formal qualifications and for those with higher level skills—including graduates and those with higher level vocational qualifications—is likely to continue to grow. Demand for those with lower level skills is likely, overall, to decline.
	Through the Government's active labour market policies, such as the New Deal and Ambition initiatives, we have provided thousands of people with the skills, experience and confidence they need to succeed in the modern labour market. Along with more people staying on in post-compulsory education there are increases in the number of people with skills and fewer people with low or no skills or qualifications.

Health and Safety

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Department has to increase the number of Health and Safety inspectors over the next three years.

Des Browne: Estimates of the number of Health and Safety inspectors who will be employed in each of the next three financial years have not yet been made.
	The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is now consulting on a new strategy for the years 2004–10. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is carrying out pilot studies in new ways of working to free up resource which can be used to deliver its mission to protect peoples' health and safety by ensuring risks to health and safety from the changing workplace are properly controlled. Responses to the draft strategy and the results of the pilot studies will be taken into account when deciding on the appropriate mix and number of staff (including inspectors) within HSE.
	While regulation and enforcing compliance with the law remain vital elements of HSE's work, they are not the only means of achieving health and safety improvements. HSE plans to put more effort into educating, influencing and working in partnership with others (at all levels) who can help achieve further improvement in health and safety performance.

Loans

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 18 September 2003, Official Report, column 910W, on loans for those on low incomes, if he will commission a small scale study to assess this problem.

Chris Pond: We have no plans to commission such a study at the present time.

Pensions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times pensioners have been written to mistakenly by his Department regarding nominating a bank account for future payments of pensions, pre-supposing they have not yet responded.

Chris Pond: We do not have the information requested.
	The conversion process will differ according to the client group in question. However, it will normally consist of one or more mailings followed by a telephone call if there is no response to the letter(s).
	Key figures on the progress of conversion to Direct Payment are available in the Library updated every four weeks.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Arson

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated cost of arson to (a) property and (b) the economy in each of the last three years was in (i) the UK and (ii) Merseyside.

Nick Raynsford: Data on the cost of arson are available for England and Wales and not separately for Merseyside. 1999 and 2000 are the most recent years for which reliable estimates are available.
	The estimated cost of arson involving property (ie arson in domestic, commercial or public sector buildings) was an estimated £1,850 million in 1999 and £1,750 million in 2000. These figures include the cost of fire protection systems.
	In 1999, arson cost the economy in England and Wales an estimated £2.1 billion; in 2000, this was an estimated £2.2 billion.

Arson

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of vehicles that were subject to arson in the last 12 months for which figures are available had more than one month's vehicle duty paid.

Nick Raynsford: Information on the vehicle duty status of vehicles subject to arson is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Arson

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of blazes attended by fire crews were the result of arson in each of the last three years in (a) the UK and (b) Merseyside.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is tabled as follows.
	
		Malicious primary fires as a proportion of all primary fires, 2000–02
		
			  2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 United Kingdom   
			 Total malicious primary fires 111,174 123,184 120,953 
			 Total primary fires 219,663 228,229 218,916 
			 Proportion malicious (percentage) 57 54 55 
			 
			 Merseyside
			 Total malicious primary fires 5,347 5,604 5,553 
			 Total primary fires 8,405 8,373 8,043 
			 Proportion malicious (percentage) 64 67 69 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Malicious fires are those where deliberate ignition is proved or suspected.
	2. Primary fires are those which cause damage to property or involve casualties.
	3. Data for 2001 and 2002 are provisional

Empty Homes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many empty homes were owned by (a) local councils and (b) social housing authorities in each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: The information requested is tabled as follows:
	
		Total number of vacant dwellings at 1 April
		
			  Council RSL Total 
		
		
			 1997 80,500 26,700 107,200 
			 1998 81,700 29,200 110,900 
			 1999 82,700 32,700 115,400 
			 2000 86,000 37,500 123,500 
			 2001 79,200 39,300 118,500 
			 2002 76,600 39,700 116,300 
			 2003 62,000 44,800 106,800

Housing (Overcrowding)

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary's statement of 29 October 2003, Official Report, column 126WH, 
	(1)  on what basis his Department estimates that 25,000 households are statutorily overcrowded;
	(2)  if he will provide a regional breakdown of households which are statutorily overcrowded.

Yvette Cooper: The estimate was derived using data from the Survey of English Housing for the three years 1999–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, supplemented with some data from the English House Condition Survey. It was necessary to use data from three years of the Survey of English Housing because the number of households statutorily overcrowded is so small, just over 0.1 per cent., that it would not have been possible to derive an estimate using data for a single year. Even combining years the estimate remains very tentative, and for this reason it is not possible to provide a regional breakdown.

Local Government Ombudsman

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many cases were considered by the Local Government Ombudsman in the last year for which figures are available; how many cases were (a) upheld and (b) rejected; what the average time taken was to consider cases; and what the average cost per case was.

Nick Raynsford: In 2002–03 the number of complaints on which determinations were made by the Commission for Local Administration in England (Local Government Ombudsman) was 18,376. Of these, 145 cases of maladministration led to the issue of reports, and 3,735 cases led to local settlements being made. In 5,560 cases no or insufficient evidence of maladministration or injustice were found. The rest of the complaints were found to be either premature or outside the Ombudsman's jurisdiction, or else the Ombudsman used his discretion not to pursue the complaint. The average time taken to consider cases was 14.3 weeks and the average cost per complaint was £538.

Section 106 Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the average value of section 106 agreements was in each of the last five years; [R]
	(2)  how many section 106 agreements have been made during each of the last five years; [R]
	(3)  what the average value of the section 106 agreements involved in planning permissions given on (a) call-in and (b) appeal by him was in each of the last five years. [R]

Keith Hill: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, a study by John Henneberry and Heather Campbell of Sheffield University, published in 2001, estimated the average value of planning obligations as £148,730 in north England and £753,830 in south England. It also estimated that about 1.5 per cent. of planning applications in England involve a section 106 agreement. In 2001–02 there were 582,000 planning applications in England.

Section 106 Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions on his policy towards section 106 agreements he has had in the last three months with (a) the leaders of London boroughs, (b) the Mayor of London, (c) the Town and Country Planning Association, (d) the Housebuilders' Federation, (e) the Leader of Manchester City Council, (f) the construction industry, (g) the Leader of Liverpool City Council and (h) non-governmental organisations; [R]
	(2)  what discussions on his policy towards section 106 agreements he has had in the last three months with (a) the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, (b) the Leader of Birmingham City Council, (c) the Chairman of the Environment Agency, (d) local authorities, (e) the British Property Federation, (f) leaders of metropolitan district councils, (g) representatives of the planning profession, (h) the Chairman of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, (i) leaders of district councils and (j) the Better Regulation Task Force. [R]

Keith Hill: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister speaks to a large number of individuals and organisations in the normal course of business, and in the process of reviewing policy.

Small Business

Mark Prisk: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with (a) representatives of local government, (b) the Federation of Small Businesses and (c) other groups representing business on the effect of Part 8 of the Local Government Act 2003 on competition between local government and small businesses.

Nick Raynsford: The Government consulted widely on the provisions in the Local Government Act 2003 and has considered the concerns of small businesses particularly with regard to the charging and trading provisions. In addition, officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister held discussions with the Small Business Service of the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), the Office of Fair Trading and CBI.
	While the powers to charge for discretionary services will be available to all best value authorities, the trading powers set out in the Act will be subject to the council's CPA categorisation and only available to authorities with a fair good or excellent record on delivery of public service. Trading is only exercisable through a company structure which means it will be subject to the same regulation as other commercial bodies (for example on taxation). This will ensure that authorities keep any trading activities separate from their ordinary functions as well as promoting a level playing field with the private sector.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to ensure that authorities do not distort markets through the provision of inappropriate subsidies to trading companies or the arrangement of preferential terms and other forms of unfair competition. To cover these concerns, we propose to impose certain conditions to regulate how authorities should engage in their trading activities. We will issue Guidance to reinforce this, to which authorities are required to have regard. Guidance on the charging powers will be published shortly. Authorities are subject to best value audit and inspection and must abide by competition legislation.

Valuation Bands (Pendle)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many appeals have been made against valuation bands of properties in Pendle in each year since 1992.

Nick Raynsford: The number of appeals that have been made each year against valuation bands of properties within the Pendle Billing Authority since Council Tax was introduced on 1 April 1993 is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Number of appeals 
		
		
			 1993–94 1,249 
			 1994–95 109 
			 1995–96 138 
			 1996–97 142 
			 1997–98 141 
			 1998–99 115 
			 1999–2000 108 
			 2000–01 118 
			 2001–02 73 
			 2002–03 44 
			 2003–04 (27)50 
		
	
	(27) To date

TREASURY

Bechtel

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Chancellor's agencies have not had any contracts with Bechtel in this period.

Child Trust Fund

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the results of the Child Trust Fund; and how many people in each area have taken advantage of the scheme.

Paul Boateng: The Child Trust Fund (CTF) is intended to encourage parents and children to develop the savings habit. It will ensure that every child, whatever their family background, will have access at the age of 18 when they begin their adult life, to a stock of assets which they can invest in their future.
	It will also help children and their parents to understand the benefits of saving and investment and how to engage with financial institutions.
	Detailed proposals covering the CTF were issued on 28 October. Accounts will first become available in April 2005. It will not be necessary to make a specific claim for the CTF—access will be through the child benefit system and parents will be sent a voucher with which to open an account for their child. Where an account has not been opened within 12 months of the issue of the voucher the Inland Revenue will open an account for the child to ensure that they do not miss out.

Financial Services Authority

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Financial Services Authority has adopted the financial literacy strategy used by the Treasury.

John Healey: HM Treasury works closely with the Financial Services Authority, and others, on issues of financial literacy.
	The FSA announced the members of their Financial Capability Steering Group on 20 October 2003. The Group will develop and implement a national strategy for financial capability. The FSA has announced that, advised by the Steering Group, it will publish the strategy by the end of March 2004.

North Sea Oil Tax Regime

Nick Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact he estimates the Energy Chapter of the Draft EU Constitution will have on the North Sea oil tax regime.

Dawn Primarolo: The Draft EU Constitutional Treaty is currently being discussed in the Intergovernmental Conference. The Draft has no legal force until it is agreed unanimously by member states.
	The Government made it clear in its White Paper "The British Approach to the European Union Intergovernmental Conference 2003" that it would not agree to a new Treaty which was not in the UK's interests, and that it will insist that tax matters continue to be decided by unanimity.

Private Schools

George Foulkes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on value added tax revenue of private schools' charitable status in the last year for which figures are available.

John Healey: No such estimate has been made.

Tax Credits (Overpayment)

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the arrangements that will apply when recipients are required to repay their tax credits following changes in their income; what the maximum period is over which repayments can be made; what penalties exist for those failing to repay; and whether repayment will be required in a lump sum.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue has published a code of practice on what happens when tax credit has been overpaid, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
	Financial penalties, and interest, can be imposed only where an overpayment arose because the claimant behaved fraudulently or negligently.

Tax Credits (Overpayment)

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what internal review procedures exist within the Inland Revenue for tax credit recipients faced with overpayments; and how these procedures differ from those that existed for working families tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: Working families tax credit was a fixed award based on a snapshot of income and circumstances around the time of claim. Awards of new tax credits, however, are responsive to changes in circumstances and income and can be adjusted to reflect changes. The Inland Revenue has published a code of practice on recovery of overpayments of child and working tax credits.

Tax Credits (Overpayment)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of (a) the number of cases of overpayment and (b) the amount of the overpayment of (i) working families tax credit, (ii) children's tax credit and (iii) disabled person's tax credit in 2002–03.

Dawn Primarolo: Working families and disabled person's tax credit awards were fixed for 26 weeks, based on a snapshot of income and circumstances around the time of claim, and were not amended to reflect changes in the recipients' circumstances or incomes during this period. Provided the award was based on accurate information, overpayments did not arise. Children's tax credit is not a payment; it is a tax allowance which reduces a taxpayer's overall tax liability for the year.

Tax Credits (Overpayment)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue will publish the code of practice on overpayment of tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 10 November 2003
	The Inland Revenue is today publishing a Code of Practice on what happens when too much tax credit has been paid. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Tax Credits (Overpayment)

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  in what circumstances overpayments of tax credits are (a) recovered within the tax year in which they occurred and (b) recovered in the following tax year by means of a reduction in tax credit payments;
	(2)  how many recipients of tax credits have been overpaid and issued with demands for lump sum repayments;

John Thurso: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recipients of tax credits in Scotland have been (a) overpaid and (b) issued with demands for lump sum repayments.

Dawn Primarolo: During the tax year, a tax credit award can be amended to reflect changes in claimants' circumstances or because an overpayment is likely to arise at the end of the year. This may mean that payments are reduced or that no further payments are made because too much has been paid out already. To make sure that payments are not reduced to a level that would cause hardship, however, the Inland Revenue makes additional payments if that would be the case.
	Overpayments of tax credit are identified when tax credit entitlement is finalised after the end of that year. In addition, overpayments can be identified when, as part of their compliance activities, the Inland Revenue terminate a tax credits award because the claimant had never in fact been entitled to tax credit. In these cases, the overpayment may be recovered as soon as the award is terminated. Around 700 requests for payment in such cases had been made by the end of October, including around 100 to families in Scotland.
	The Inland Revenue is today publishing a Code of Practice on what happens when too much tax credit has been paid. The Code will also cover the circumstances in which the Revenue will not seek to recover a debt, for example, in cases of hardship. A copy of the Code has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Tax Returns

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his written answer of 3 November 2003, Official Report, column 458W, on self-assessment, what information he has collated on the reasons for the increase in notices to file.

Dawn Primarolo: The 'notices to file' are served to those that:
	Have previously filed electronically through their agent and the agents Electronic Lodgment Service (ELS).
	Filed electronically by the internet.
	Have previously submitted a substitute return. These are paper returns provided by a third party, often a software developer, which have been formally approved by the Inland Revenue.
	The number of 'notices to file' have increased due to the increase in the number of people filing over the internet and through their agents who use the internet service and the Electronic Lodgement Service.

VAT Registrations

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of (a) new businesses, (b) business closures and (c) companies registered for value added tax in each year since 1996–97.

Nigel Griffiths: I have been asked to reply.
	The numbers of businesses that registered and de-registered for VAT in each calendar year since 1996, and the number of businesses that were registered at the start of each of these years (stocks), in the United Kingdom, are available at www.sbs.gov.uk/statistics/vatstats.php, and are as follows:
	
		
			  Registrations De-registrations Stocks 
		
		
			 1996 171,005 154,630 1,629,165 
			 1997 187,690 151,900 1,645,540 
			 1998 187,515 153,450 1,681,335 
			 1999 181,370 160,410 1,715,395 
			 2000 184,035 165,475 1,736,360 
			 2001 174,620 167,185 1,754,915 
			 2002 175,800 176,040 1,762,355 
			 2003 (28)— (28)— 1,762,110 
		
	
	(28) Not yet available
	These figures for the number of businesses comprise companies, partnerships and sole traders. Figures are not available for the number of companies alone.